Elwyn Tinklenberg getting into the 6th CD race

[Minnesota Raindog]

This rumor has been confirmed by a couple of sources, 6th CD candidate Bob Hill among them. It's reported that the DCCC isn't happy with either Bob Hill or Bob Olson, the two declared DFL candidates in the 6th, so the Beltway Kingmakers have pushed Tinklenberg to run. Unfortunately for the Kingmakers, the DCCC doesn't endorse candidates, delegates do, and I'm not sure they'll take kindly to having the DCCC foist "their" candidate on them. You can bet this has to do with abortion politics. Are we headed for another Janet Robert debacle in the 6th?

[Demrock6]

1. It would be interesting

To see what would happend if El were to get in.

I have seen and heard Bob Olson, and walked away thinking ‘eh’. I know a few former delegates felt similar about Bob Hill, whom I did not see.

Bob Hill has raised a good amount of cash and you would think he would have the DCCC blessing if that is the case.

If Tink were to get into the race, full court press - not dilly dally around like last time, I think I could move to his corner. I was an opponent of Tink last time around but he began to grow on me toward the end of the endorsement season. Had I not been in a Wetterling sub caucus I may have tossed my support his way in convention.

He would have a leg up over the others with 6th district delegates for the nomination if he gets in.

We need to get the guy or gal who will give Bachmann the biggest run for her, and national republican’s money. Tarryl Clark of St. Cloud would be the ideal dream candidate the DCCC should be looking for in my opinion.

[wellstone dem]

8. I agree that Tarryl Clark would be a dream candidate and

don't understand why we don't hear much talk about that.

[lavndrblue]

11. Throwing women and LGBT under the bus

Elwyn is not what we need for the CD6. If we continue to compromise on social issues House or Senate, you will see a woman's right to choose lost as well as continued discrimination against the LGBT community. Elwyn is a nice guy but he never had the delegates and won't have the leg up you think he will. I know many that will NOT support him, I am one of them. Do you really think that moderate Republicans and hard line Democrats will vote for Tinklenberg? Nope, the Republicans will vote for Bachmann no matter what, and the Democrats will skip voting the Congressional race.

I want change, I want a real Democrat to run and win in the CD6, not a social conservative in Democratic clothing!!!

[dflprincess]

13. If I lived in the 6th, the fact that the DCCC is apparently supporting him

would be my first clue that this is not the candidate for me.

[ISUGRADIA]

2. It's not like the delegates hated Elwyn last time

It took Wetterling 7 ballots to win the endorsement. Let's not have another Wetterling debacle in the 6th. Dem year and tons of money wasted on crappy ads and candidate packaging.

[Minnesota Raindog]

3. Agreed that Wetterling was a debacle as well, but...

"Let's not have another Wetterling debacle in the 6th. Dem year and tons of money wasted on crappy ads and candidate packaging."


It also took a crappy candidate who failed to live up to her supporters' expectations--and her promises.

"It took Wetterling 7 ballots to win the endorsement. "

But the issues delegates--and voters--have with Tinklenberg are on social issues, and his supporters continue to trot out that tired "analysis" that a social liberal can't win in the 6th. Bachmann only got 50.3% of the vote. That means 49.7% voted for pro-choice, socially liberal candidates. A .6% difference is hardly insurmountable, even in the 6th. A .4% shift and Bachmann is gone.

[Mister Ed]

4. I was a committed Wetterling delegate at the CD6 convention, but...

...I couldn't help but be impressed with Tinklenberg. He struck me as a person of solid character and genuine moral integrity. That's just a subjective, personal impression I came away with.

[Minnesota Raindog]

5. If people want an anti-choice social conservative in the 6th...

...they'll vote for Michele Bachmann, not Bachmann Lite (Tinklenberg).

[Demrock6]

6. He is not far out of step with main stream dems

And would actually be a good fit for the district. He shares the same view on gay marriage as the front runner dem presidential candidates: pro-civil unions. He maybe prolife, but honestly how often does that issue come up in the House of Representatives? Not too often. Some will sight it and vote a certain way in regards to steam cells or embryonic stem cell research. Matter of fact he should be given credit for stating what he thinks and standing by it even in the face of criticism from his party.

El would be good on all issues but excel on issues of transportation issues and trade / labor relations; the real meat and potatoes of the House a side from naming federal post offices.

This is one recruit that Rahm was probably right about last time around.

[Minnesota Raindog]

7. Sorry to see you're quick to throw the pro-choice issue under the bus

But I've come to expect that from the DFL...

[Demrock6]

9. Far from tossing it under the bus...

It is an important issue; I just don’t feel it is as relevant in the House as it is in the Senate because they are the ones that do the judicial conformation. Unless I am mistaken, and I very well could be, Choice it seems is an issue that is mostly affected with the judicial branch.

[dflprincess]

10. Anti-choice legislation could originate in either the House or the Senate

much as it has in many state legislatures.

[lavndrblue]

12. Civil Unions

No, he doesn't support Civil Unions. He has come out against and anyway, Civil Unions are not portable they only are valid in the state where you have been recognized in the union. It is a cheap way out of supporting the LGBT community. The Civil Union stance is a way to keep full rights from a percentage of citizens in our country.

No, Tinklenberg is not the answer. You should take a really good look at Bob Olson. He is everything Bachmann is not. www.bobolson.org

[Mister Ed]

16. By the way, lavendrblue, welcome to DU.

I like your screen name!

[Mister Ed]

15. That's pretty much what I told Tinklenberg delegates who wanted to sway me.

And I still think it's true. Bachmann probably has a lock on the pro-life vote, and no pro-life Dem is likely to woo many of those voters away from her.

[Minnesota Raindog]

14. Remember Tinklenberg's reaction to Wetterling running?

No one screamed "Foul" louder than Elwyn Tinklenberg when Patty Wetterling entered the 6th CD race last year. But now it's Elwyn's turn.

From an MPR story last year:

http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2006/02/... /

Wetterling's entrance into the race sets up a messy battle for the party endorsement. Her DFL opponent is Elwyn Tinklenberg, who served as transportation commissioner under Jesse Ventura. He says he got into the race a year ago only after Wetterling assured him she wouldn't run. In fact, Tinklenberg says his wife donated to Wetterling's Senate campaign. That money can now be used against him since Wetterling can transfer her Senate funds to her congressional campaign.

"Here was somebody who spoke directly, spoke from the heart and prided herself on not being just another politician but now she said 'things have changed'. I'm sad to say that I believe that one of the things that has changed the most is Patty," Tinklenberg said after Wetterling's announcement.


Yet Tinklenberg himself claimed last May that he was not running this year, citing the demands of his consulting business and family.

So, Elwyn, who has changed more now?