Michael reports that Senate Tax Chair Tom Bakk has registered a campaign committee to run for Governor in 2010. Bakk has been considering a gubernatorial candidacy for many months now, and publicly flirted with the idea in a Star Tribune article just a few weeks back. Bakk is loved by the unions but not liked by environmentalists.
If the 2010 DFL primary is a crowded field (and we think it will be) Bakk will be a serious contender due to expected heavy support on the Range and Northern Minnesota. Nevertheless, he will have some serious work to do to increase his name recognition in the Twin Cities and the rest of the state if he hopes to win the endorsement outright.
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Not a huge surprise.
I’m not too big on Bakk. It’s been clear for a long time that he’s wanted this and he would be a much better candidate then Hatch but he’s done a lot of not so good things as Tax Chair.
I’m still holding out for Walz, Rybak or Kelliher. I’m interested in learning more about Doug Peterson if he jumps in. I have mixed feelings on Clark (mostly I want her to take out Rep. Crazy)
But, Michael DIDN’T report that Karl Rove is scheduled to address the GOPers in Rochester on Saturday Nite.
I wonder why?
Maybe even Michael understands bringing in Karl Rove as a keynoter isn’t such a good idea?
Personally, I think it’s a FABULOUS idea!!!
I don’t know much about Bakk at this point. But I too am already leaning toward
Joe Atkins http://www.joeatkins.com/
Joe is one of the most common since guys in St. Paul. He backed out of the senate race so that will get him some points.
R.T. Rybak http://www.rtrybak.com/
I think this man represents the best of what is the New DFL. And as state chair of the Obama campaign he has incredible access into the grassroots.
These two are my favorite for now, but we are a long way out.
I like Clark but what I dont get why the hell didnt she challenger Rep. Crazy this time. Perfect year, huge Democrat year, she wouldnt have to give up her Senate seat so whatever if she loses. Really, she would’ve been one hell of a recruit.
He should run against Franken. Lord knows hundreds of people have asked him to.
If Tom Bakk is governor we’ll have ATVs grinding up every square mile of Minnesota’s forests and a season on timber wolves (and not the basketball kind). Governor Bakk would be an environmental disaster.
Not to mention subsidies for every idiotic stadium/mall/development project no matter what the merits, as long as it provides a few temporary construction jobs.
I don’t get the hype over Atkins.
http://wonkette.com/384134/hannah-montana-bill-gets-minnesota-legislators-hot
Honestly that bill pissed me off a lot. Not beacuse there was anything hugely wrong with it. But c’mon. Don’t these people have better things to do with our time?
I think he’d be a good guy to run against Kline if Sarvi loses this time around but I’m not big on him for governor.
Out of the candidates I think are running (Dayton, Rybak, Bakk and Gardner) I think Rybak is by far the best. He’s build up a great grassroots following. Knows how to run a winning campaign and is pretty darn progressive. Plus he would likely have the backing of the incumbent president which could be a huge boost.
I’m waiting to see what kinds of signals Walz is sending until I launch a Draft Rybak campaign but as of now I think he would be the best candidate.
RT Rybak has got to be the most overrated politician in the history of Minnesota. Mayor of Minneapolis is a bad place to start from for a statewide race, and Rybak really hasn’t done jack shit in that position.
Care to explain Dan?
I assume you don’t need an explanation of why Minneapolis mayor is a terrible place to start a statewide race. As to Rybak, what has the guy ever done, besides making really bad decisions with regard to his police and fire chief hires? He drives a plug-in hybrid and is “pretty darn progressive” but how has that amounted to anything as far as governing Minneapolis? I don’t know that that Margaret Kelliher is going to be a great governor candidate, but she kicked ass in her current job as House Speaker and so any hype about her is justified.
As far as knowing how to get elected, getting elected in Minneapolis is very different than getting elected statewide. We’ve had Green party candidates get elected in Minneapolis, but that doesn’t mean they could get 3 votes in Hibbing.