After Jim Ramstad announced his retirment on Monday, local political blog MN Publius started a reader poll asking who the DFL’s nominee should be. Here are the results as of Tuesday …

bill luther was embarassing in his last 2 campaigns (his ag campaign was a stunt to hurt steve kelley, and his recruitment of a known dfl activist to run as a 3rd party candidate to siphon votes against kline was so stupid it boggles the mind). buck humphrey’s a good guy with his heart in the right place but he has none of his grandad’s rhetorical gifts and is not quick on his feet. we’d lose with either one.

as far as dfl delegates go - they might lean to the women, but luger has certainly done some groundwork.

Here’s why:

Fundamentally what will likely determine the democratic nominee here is the party’s endorsement. Having just campaigned across the entire third district for nearly two years, he of the possible candidates has had more direct contact with party activists across the district than anyone else. He manageed to garner some pretty hardcore supporters from across the district and from a variety of different niches within the party. He had a ton of support within the third going into the Hennepin county convention, where he won endorsement with over 70% on the first ballot. Additionally, activists within the district have been urging him to look at running since last spring.

He certaintly wouldn’t be a shoe-in for endorsement, but if he gets in he has to be considered the favorite.

My vote is for real estate developer Kelly Doran. I sure hope he gets in the race. Doran has all the qualities to win the 3rd district. His business credentials, moderate stances, and not to mention financial wearwithall.

Go listen to the MPR Gov debate…he was clearly the winner.