Senator Dick Durbin is traveling through Minnesota today campaigning for Barack Obama and was nice enough to take a few minutes out of his busy schedule (stops in St. Paul, Duluth, Stillwater and White Bear Lake all in one day!) to talk with me.
I asked Sen. Durbin what his sense was of the state of the race in Minnesota and he was very optomistic. Sen. Durbin pointed to the major investment that the Obama campaign has put into the ground game - 34 field offices, thousands of volunteers, labor really involved - and said it really reminded him of the Wellstone era. Sen. Durbin also said he was looking forward to having Al Franken join him in the Senate next year. Apparently Durbin and Franken have been friends for over a decade.
I also asked Sen. Durbin about the recent troubling accounts of McCain supporters yelling violent and offensive outbursts at McCain/Palin rallies. Sen. Durbin said that he’s “concerned about it” and that when it happens McCain should tell people to stop. Sen. Durbin also noted that Republican Congressman Ray LaHood, a McCain supporter, also thinks that McCain and Palin should intervene.
Unrelated to Minnesota politics, Sen. Durbin was back in Illinois last night debating his opponent for reelection. What is particularly noteworthy about the occassion was that the debate took place on the 150th aniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas debate that was held at the same location: my alma matter, Knox College. Sen. Durbin also holds the same Senate seat that was at issue in the campaign between the Little Giant and the Great Emancipator. Much like 1858, it appears that the Democratic incumbent will beat the Republican challenger this fall. Unlike 1858, I think Lincoln would be happy with the outcome.
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Obama was going to win MN even if he didn’t spend a dime here. Jacobs, Kessler, and others that have beeen calling MN “in play” should be ashamed for their self-promotion (no one would be interviewing them if the race was in the bag). Hillary would have had the same result. Hell, even Edwards would probably have won. Franken will be fine in the Senate. As Barkley said on MPR earlier today, he will be a good Democrat and vote the way he’s told. Obama and Reid will show him the way…
In reference to the outbursts of hate at McCain/Palin rallies, Minnesota has been embarrassed today at the McCain event when a woman called Sen. Obama “an Arab” and a man started going on about whether his unborn child will have anything to fear if Obama becomes President.
McCain defended Sen. Obama as a “decent man” and was booed by our fellow citizens.
Minnesota, hail to thee.
By the way, was Rep. Kline there? It took place in the Second.
I, being a history buff, find Zachs Liberal Arts Degree from Knox more interesting. As he touts the attributes of Douglas, he must remember that those debates ruined Douglas’ political career. Zach obviously knows that Douglas did not appose the expansion of slavery, in keeping with most Democrats, while Lincoln did. Zach must also know that Douglas professed “majority rule” (that part cracks me up, knowing the DFL mantra and all!) while Lincoln was beholden to moral principles….much like it still is today.
In contrast, GW Gale (whom Zach must know) was a stout anti-slavery reformist. After hearing the debates, the college bestowed on Mr. Lincoln the first ever honorary degree from Knox. Amazing though, they didn’t give it to Douglas? Who’ld a thought?
Sen. Obama gave the commencement in 2005 also.
BTW Zach, I much preferred “Old Siwash”…
Whats “Prairie Fire”?