Eric Black is reporting that the NRCC is trying to recruit Jim Ramstad rescind his retirement and run again. Kevin Diaz of the Star Tribune confirms, quoting an NRCC operative as saying:
“If grassroots Republicans in Minnesota support the idea of Congressman Ramstad running for reelection, then Chairman [Tom] Cole [R-Okla.] seconds that sentiment,”
It seems to me that the GOP has little faith in Erik Paulsen’s ability to hold this seat.
I guess I can’t blame them. Terri Bonoff has really hit the ground running. She’s put together an impressive warchest and has started to put together an impressive campaign team. If I were a Republican, Terri Bonoff would make me very nervous.
And if that weren’t enough, you have Steve Simon and Jim Hovland — who are both potentially very strong candidates — still considering runs. It’s a bad situation for the MN GOP.
That being said, this is a rather stunning display of doubt in Erik Paulsen. He’s had over three weeks now to put together a campaign, but apparently the national party just isn’t impressed.
Come back, Jim.
Are you totally stupid (don’t answer that, we know your are).
The Field has cleared precisely because Paulsen (recent Majority Leader) is the strongest possible candidate to maintain this Republican seat (and it is a Republican seat).
Please don’t display this kind of silly, childish ignorance. It is precious and innocently cute, but it is unbecoming of someone who feigns seriousness.
If Paulsen is the candidate the DCCC will stay home. Rumor has it that’s already the plan.
“If Paulsen is the candidate the DCCC will stay home. Rumor has it that’s already the plan.”
Rumors that you start don’t count. Trust me when I say that NO ONE on the DFL side thinks Paulsen is an exceptionally strong candidate.
You think the DCCC staying home will save you?
Here, wait - I got Gil’s number around here somewhere….
Ramstad won’t do it. He’ll wreck his legacy. Right now he goes out with a legacy of a reasonable guy working across the aisles. If he does this to bail out the GOP, his legacy becomes one of political hack who was willing to give it all up to keep his buddies in office. If he stays, he better change his billboards to say, “He Works for the Republican Party Only!”
Rumors I start are just as meaningful as those you start.
Like the rumor your side will play in this seat with Paulsen as the candidate for example.
Nobody even wants to run against him it seems.
I’m surprised you are able to pull yourself away from Sesame Street long enough to invent this shit.
DDFL, answer this then. Why are the NRCC try to get Ramstad back then? If they were truely confident in Paulsen, they wouldnt care about Ramstad.
I’ll take Ramstad in a heartbeat. If he is having 2nd thoughts, and reads this post (wishful thinking), I say “go for it, Jim”
“Nobody even wants to run against him it seems.”
Are you kidding? Terri Bonoff is the only announced candidate (including Paulsen) in this race. She’s raised 90k. She’s hired a campaign manager.
If you think anyone on the DFL side is afraid of Erik “I lost a leadership election to the ‘clap’ guy” Paulsen, you are seriously deluded. My socks have more personality than this guy.
Spot would have said “brick,” but “my socks” works, too.
Andrew, if you think Eric Black reporting something makes it so, we obviously have issues that can’t be solved here.
Publius, your socks issue sounds like a personal problem. Get some ointment or some sort of balm. Good luck with that.
I hope the Democrats spend a lot on this district. Just means less money to protect freshman DFL’ers in the house and less money for Al Franken.
Didn’t you guys learn anything from the fiasco in Sviggum’s former seat?
Wasn’t much of a fiasco considering our party has the money to spend on districts that seem out of reach. I know that must be hard for the Republicans to remember, WE HAVE MORE MONEY THAN YOU! We can make nearly anything a race now,
And we did make that one quite the race, it was pretty close there for awhile and we were even in the lead at certain points with the numbers coming in. Calling that a fiasco is quite the overstatement.
DDFL, I believe Brodkorb also reported on this which gives Black a bit more credibility.
Wow DDFL, way to keep the spirit of rational discourse alive and well. No need to attempt civility, eh?
loveit, Sviggums district was heavily Republican, and a total unknown came reasonably close to winning it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I’m not seeing the “fiasco” here.
DDFL, I’d love a source citation on the DCCC deciding to sit out the 3rd, if you wouldn’t mind. Since the district has a PVI of, I believe, R 2, you’re technically correct that it is a Republican district. However, that doesn’t translate into Paulsen being a shoo-in or, in my opinion, the frontrunner. Colin Peterson has represented a Redder district for how long now? As every state and national analyst has said, the fact that the 3rd is a swing district was obscured by Ramstad’s massive bipartisan appeal.
Ultimately, it’s going to be a long hard 13 months for anyone wanting to replace our last GOP moderate. The DFL will have an edge in $$$, the suburbs have been shifting our way for a decade and the all important independents look likely to break our way just as heavily as they did last year. The flip side is a GOP edge in voter registration and frankly, a stronger turnout infrastructure. Whoever wins will do so tired and bloody and by an infinitely smaller margin than this districts seen since 1990.
One unexplored topic: while I think Bonoff is the strongest remaining candidate (C’mon Luger, give it some more thought!) I doubt the DFL can hold her Senate seat. Anyone have any idea whose running for it, from either party?
“Dumbing It Down For The Left”
Your name says it all. Unfortunately for you, the “happy time” of insults and smears actually being effective ways of winning elections are over.
Yopu seem to think that casually insulting people is accepted, and that is where you are wrong. I would expect, however, that in fact it is you who are too dumb to see that, and you who will continue to act he same way, and it is your party who will become political dinosaurs because of people like you.
I have a rumor for you. The Republican party is going to lose their asses in the next election, and there’s nothing that can stop that from happening. That’s just something I’ve heard a lot lately.
The PVI of the district is actually R .5 (to be clear, thats .5, not 5)
This district is the definition of a swing district and if ANYONE thinks the DCCC is not going to play here, they are out of their mind.
Front page article in the StarTrib confirms that Ramstad is being courted to remain.
>Are you totally stupid (don’t answer that, we know your are).
Tip: when you’re going to call someone stupid, proofread.
Tanuki:
State Senate seats are four years. None are up for re-election until 2010.
Nutro,
You are still the king of insults and smears.
That is an interesting point - all the attention and funds are going to go into a smaller net amount of races in Minnesota this year. I wonder what effect that will have.
Yes Dean Dem, but I doubt they’ll leave the seat open that long. Special election, ala Sviggum’s district.