Exclusive: Blodgett to Run Minnesota for Obama

MN Publius has learned that Jeff Blodgett, the preeminent political strategist in Minnesota, has agreed to be the Minnesota State Director for Barack Obama.  This is a major coup for the Obama campaign.  Blodgett is best known as Paul Wellstone’s campaign manager, but he has had his hands in many of the big DFL wins in Minnesota over the last two decades.  In 2004, Blodgett joined the Kerry campaign in the final few weeks and (together with Ben Goldfarb) put together a GOTV strategy which turned Minnesota blue once more.  Blodgett was also a major player in Amy Klobuchar’s successful campaign in 2006.  When he is not winning big races, Blodgett runs Wellstone Action, an organization that has trained hundreds of emerging progressive leaders including Gov. Rep. Tim Walz.  Blodgett will be taking a formal leave of absence from Wellstone Action starting July 1.

Blodgett’s decision to join the Obama campaign will come as no surprise to readers of his blog.  Just a month ago, Blodgett lavished praise on the campaign’s commitment to grassroots organizing:

At Wellstone Action! we’re always looking for examples of candidates who have tried to bring community organizing tactics to their campaigns. Nowadays, the Obama Presidential Campaign is perhaps the best example. Obama has made an unprecedented investment in on-the-ground organization, and has in the process cultivated well-trained and highly motivated volunteers.

UPDATE: The Obama campaign has just put out a release confirming Blodgett’s hire. The full text can be found after the jump…

Jeff Blodgett to Serve as Obama’s Minnesota State Director

Minneapolis, MN — Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign announced today that Jeff Blodgett will serve as Minnesota State Director for the general election.

“I am honored to be a part of this amazing campaign, and am excited to join the tens of thousands of Minnesotans already working to elect Barack Obama,” Bodgett said. “We will work very hard here for every vote and make sure that in November Minnesota’s voice is heard loud and clear in this movement to change Washington.”

“We are lucky to have Jeff Blodgett join our team,” Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said. “His community and political organizing experience in Minnesota are unparalleled. More than anyone, Jeff understands community organizing is the backbone of this grassroots movement, and that real change comes from empowering others to become part of the political process.”

Jeff will be taking a formal leave from current job as Executive Director of Wellstone Action beginning July 1. Blodgett ran all three of Paul Wellstone’s senate races. In 2006, he was Senior Advisor to Amy Klobuchar’s U.S. Senate campaign, and oversaw get-out-the-vote efforts in Minnesota for Kerry/Edwards in 2004.

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