The Star Tribune confirms what we already knew, Republicans are desperately trying to recruit Ramstad to run again and he’s not biting:
Facing Democratic challengers for all three of the congressional seats they hold in Minnesota, Republican leaders have been quietly meeting with Ramstad, a source close to Ramstad has told the Star Tribune.
Ramstad, 61, still plans to retire in January 2009, at the end of his ninth term, according to a statement by his chief of staff, Dean Peterson. Ramstad declined to be interviewed.
In the statement, Peterson said that “the leadership and many other groups have encouraged him [Ramstad] to run.”
According to the source, Ramstad has met in recent days with a number of prominent GOP leaders, including House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio.
This is a race that Republicans do not want to have to deal with right now. The NRCC’s fundraising has been abysmal, there are two other serious races they have to deal with in Minnesota already (Bachmann v. Tinklenberg and Kline v. Sarvi), and they know that the 3rd is going to be tough; especially if it’s Paulsen v. Bonoff. I can understand why Ramstad’s retirement is causing turmoil in the party on a national level and, I have to admit, I’m really enjoying it.
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Wow!
They are really scared, aren’t they?
Generally, Ramstad would be too “moderate” for the right, if he weren’t a Republican incumbent.
The public is realizing he’s the old middle ground Republican,
before the Neocons stole the GOP.
With as often as Ramstad votes with the Democrats, it wouldn’t be a big loss for the Republicans on key votes if this seat turned over to a moderate Democrat (and only a MODERATE ‘D’ could win this district for the left). There is no underestimating the power of having chairmanship of Committees, however, and I think the Repubs will take whoever they can get to make that happen.
I would bet that many Republicans in Washington would love to swap Ramstad’s voting record for Paulsen’s.
But it is pretty hard for me to be objective on this. I’m a long-time Ramstad supporter and would love to see him un-retire.
You could not be more wrong.
Many want Ramstad gone so we can get a real conservative in there. That district is very conservative and would support such. The left is just doing thier age old chant of hwo they will win this seat and that seat. It is the same cry every year and year after year you can count on certain areas to vote a certain way. Much as I hate how the 5th will vote year after year, I can be confidant that my district will vote conservative.
The 3rd is not “very conservative”. Look at recent Presidential elections, and look at the split of Dems and Repubs that the district sends to the State Legislature.
This is a toss-up seat. A moderate Democrat beats a conservative Republican. A moderate Republican beats a liberal Democrat. And I believe a moderate Republican beats a moderate Democrat.
I agree with Danthman’s analysis up to this point. A moderate democrat vs. a moderate republican or a liberal democrat vs. a conservative republican are pretty pure tossups, actually. and i would say things like the war and the quality of the campaigns then play much larger roles than ideology. i’d put my money on a mod dem beating a mod rep in a swing district in 2008 because of the national and local political env right now.
I wonder if we’ll see the same amount of crowing when Democrats beg Colin Peterson not to retire sometime in the future. In the event that Peterson does retire, there is little doubt that his seat would go Republican as the 7th has one of the highest Republican indexes in the state.
True - as long as the Republican party in that district doesn’t snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by nominating a candidate as nutty as the last one nominated for that run (who was nuttier than Michele Bachmann - and that’s saying something). Someone in the Jim Knoblach mode would be much better in that district - because a Jim Knoblach would “get er done.” Peterson is a bring home the bacon type of guy - and that’s what that district wants.
no such thing as a moderate DFLer, excpet for Colin Peterson, a true conservative
This is all a DFL generated campaign gambit. The district is what it is-Republican leaning.
The Rammer has retired.
The DFL spin machine will create a vacuum for a moderate that only Jim can fill, or else a DFL liberal.
The choice will not be between Rammer and Paulsen, it will be between Paulsen and a liberal DFLer who will represent the area 99% of the time the same way Keilth Ellison does.
Paulsen worked for Rammer, earned his respect and will carry on his legacy, albeit more to the right, than Jim.
Nice try.
I’ll take my chances on a moderate — from either party. Someone who scores 99 on the Club for Growth index doesn’t fit this district (not implying that Paulsen scores 99 — just trying to make a point).
Plus, the whole “respected staffer” bit didn’t do a whole lot for Erlandson when Sabo retired.
Erlandson had trouble getting DFL endorsement. By all accounts, it looks like Paulsen will have no trouble getting that.
Jim Ramstad isa what you call a “Real Republican”. Someone who knows what he stands for, talks the talk and backs it up with action that is more common sense driven than Party driven.
As for “Nutty”, I concur with Eva that Michele Bachmann is as nutty as they come. There are many things her talents would be ideal for. Being a member of Congress is not one of them.
define nutty Ramstad had no core beliefs, other than it is ok to kill babies.. Bachmann is doing exactly what we sent her to DC to do, stop the Socialist agenda
why are Christians called Nuts??..while Muslims, who adhere to a cultish belief,are bowed down to
john,
Who is bowing down to Muslims. Could you explain that to me please?
Is “bowing down” simply not wanting to exterminate every one of them?
keith ellison could fly a plane in to the IDS and still be worshipped on this blog.. who wants to exterminate all muslims?
If anyone is expecting Terri Bonoff, or even Steve Simon, to be the next Keith Ellison, you have a surprise coming. Not saying that to boast or deflate Ellison - people are just different.
John: Michele Bachmann uses christianity as a shield to defend herself from criticism - and any criticism is “anti-christian.” Criticism of Michele Bachmann is because she is a nut, a liar, a bigot, a do-nothing legislator, but an excellent self-promoter.
There have been so many incidents that have shown her to be a nut:
*Running screaming from a bathroom in Scandia after a meeting with constituents.
http://dumpbachmann.blogspot.com/2005/04/just-bizarre.html
*Hiding in the bushes to watch a gay rights rally at the state capitol.
http://www.eleventh-avenue-south.com/archives/000491.html
*Videotaping herself praying at the State Capital
*Claiming that God was focused like a laser beam on her race - and saying that God had taken sides in the race between she and Patty Wetterling.
“In the midst of him making this calling sure, what’s occurred in this particular race is that this congressional seat - one of 435 in the country - has become one of the top 5 races in the country and in the last week has become one of the top three races in the country and you may have seen now God has in his own will and in his own plan has focused like a laser beam after this scandal that came up about a week or so ago he has focused like a laser beam with his reasoning on this race.” Michele Bachmann at Living Word Christian Church, Saturday October 14, 2007
*Her infamous Death Grip of President Bush at the State of the Union. http://dumpbachmann.blogspot.com/2007/01/you-take-my-breath-away-mr-president.html
Sing it Eva, sing it.
running from the toilet after being harrassed by lesbians, a touch of the shoulder is hardly a death grip, I cant explain the other 2 you cite, newither hardly make her a nut, when has she lied, and how is she a bigot? just because she does not support homosexual marriage makes her a bigot? that term has been cheapened to mean nothing
God has a hand in all races, in all things.. so in that respect she is right
Anyone else catch the article in the Strib a couple months back about our freshmen in Congress adjusting to life on The Hill? Bachmann had a great quote about the brutal five day work week Democrats brought with them this year.
Incidentally john, I agree that God has a hand in all things. I just don’t claim to have ever communicated with Him. Unlike Michelle.
I do not cite Bachmann’s nuttiness based on her religious beliefs. She is strange in her judgement reagarding the issues and how she votes.
Jim Ramstad, on the other hand, has voted in the best interest of the people he serves rather than follow Party idealogy down the line, as isntructed by the higher ups, as Bachmann has. SCHIP is an example. Those who voted against the Bill did so looking at income numbers rather than looking into the Medical hardship cirmstances many families face. Ramstad has voted more times right on Bills than Bachmann has this year.
A member of Congress who refuses to meet on a regular basis with constituents of all opinions, nor answers for votes cast that went against said constituents, discuss the issues with said cosntituents in Town Hall meetings open to the Public, etc., does not constitute a “Representative of the People.”
Perhaps I am spoiled here in the 1st CD in having a Rep. who is accessible, visible, is willling to take the heat for votes, explains those votes so that people understand, hold town meetings on important issues like the War in Iraq, etc., warrants another term.
That the GOP wants Ramstad to reconsider retirement shows their desperation.
she represents me very well
there is no 5 day work week on the hill, another broken promise
The you are ina small minoroty of constituents in the 6th CD john, that feel Bachmann is doing a good job.
Read the Editorial pages and LTE from papers in the 6th CD. There is a different side of the story being printed. People are not happy with her. Some of the sentiments are coming from people who voted for her and regret it.
john
“she represents me very well”
I think that’s obvious to everyone here. lolols
as it should oh well Tinklenberg will probably win, with no one to bash what wil this blog do for fun?
Bashing Bachmann? Many of us are calling to task her performance so far. It’s nothing to write home about.
Bachmann is just predictable and irrelevant, and ignores who she disagrees with even in the face of all logic and reason.
She’s exactly like her base.