Caucus & Minnesota gubernatorial election 2010

[mascarax]

So who's going to caucus? And who are you going to support?
I still haven't decided (and am going).
Here's another question (yes, full of questions today): how much does it matter in this race who wins the caucus?

Here's the Wiki list (think it's complete): "The following candidates have either filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, or have formally announced their intent to run for Governor of Minnesota."

* Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
* Tom Bakk, State Senator
* Mark Dayton, Former U.S. Senator
* Matt Entenza, Former State House Minority Leader
* Susan Gaertner, Ramsey County Attorney
* Steve Kelley, Former state Senator
* John Marty, State Senator and 1994 DFL gubernatorial nominee
* Ole Savior, Artist, Perennial candidate
* Paul Thissen, State Representative
* Tom Rukavina, State Representative
* R. T. Rybak, Mayor of Minneapolis

[MineralMan]

1. I'll be caucusing, but still haven't decided who to support.

It looks like Kelliher is the current front-runner, but Mark Dayton also has a chance at this one. Ryback can kiss my red butt. I've had several calls from the Tom Bakk group, and I'm waiting for some paperwork from them, since I know very little about him.

The rest are probably not worth consideration, given their poor name recognition. I'm going to consider their ideas and chances of winning and support the one that combines the best of both.

This is an important caucus period, since it will be poorly attended. I have every intention of grabbing the chairmanship in my precinct organization and hope to get on the board at the state senate level and go to the state convention as a delegate.

It shouldn't be very difficult to do in 2010, and that will set things up for 2012.

[mascarax]

9. OK, I'll ask: so why not Rybak?

Just curious. RNC?

On another note...I keep getting emails from half of them, but they only ask for $$$ and don't say WHY I should support them!

[Mnpaul]

15. I got polled by Rybak last night

I picked Dayton out of the four choices, nothing for second choice. I won't support Rybak for the RNC crap.

[dflprincess]

10. Bakk has a terrible environmental record

I heard someone comment that he'd be willing to pave over every square inch of northern Minnesota if it meant even 10 more jobs.

That was enough for me to cross him off my list and, while he seemed a nice enough guy, I just wasn't impressed with him the couple times I heard him speak.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. The caucus is the only time We the People get to express our opinions directly,

without pre-selected options.

I'm through with voting for the people I THINK other people will support. I'll vote for whom I really support, and I urge others to do likewise.

Then I stand a chance, however small, of getting what I want instead of what someone tells me that other people want.

I wonder how many Dean and Kucinich voters in 2004 shut up and cast their votes for Kerry because he was "electable" according to someone or other. I know that in my caucus the party regulars told the attendees that a vote for anyone but Kerry was "wasted." Fortunately, about a third of us didn't listen.

[dflprincess]

3. I going

and I know who I'm not supporting, but I haven't decided who I will support.

[CatholicEdHead]

13. Same here, I have not looked at the Governor race close enough yet

[Brickbat]

4. I haven't caucused for a few years but I'm thinking about doing it again this year.

I got so burned out and frustrated dealing with so many dumbasses in the party. I must feel like I need more punishment, or something. Either that or I miss the district convention.

[dflprincess]

5. The only way to take the party back from the conservadems

is to show up at caucuses and conventions and fight them.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. We can hope that the crowds who turned out just to nominate Obama

will be bummed out and will stay home, so that it's easier for progressives to have some influence.

[dflprincess]

7. We're expecting a much smaller turn out this year

At least those of us who've been around a while are - there's a few "newbies" in my senate district who think we'll have nearly the same kind of crowds we had 2 years ago and are all gung ho. I fear they're in for a big let down.

[mascarax]

8. I think the turnout will be smaller...but maybe more than 2006?

I'll check in on that after. 2008 was ridiculous - parking was a nightmare. By the time I got in, the "want to be a delegate" list was too long, and they were asking people to volunteer to remove their names. A lot of people came in, voted for Obama, signed up on the delegate list, then left.

Thanks for the responses. I still don't know who I'm supporting (like dflprincess, I know who I'm NOT supporting). Lydia, I know what you're saying...I think many were pressured to vote for Kerry, or it wouldn't count. The guy collecting people's votes at my 2008 caucus would say "Good choice" to everyone who voted for Obama. I heard him say as he pointed out paper and pens, "Write 'Obama' or 'Clinton' on this piece of paper" a few times! Like those 2 were the only choices.

[dflprincess]

11. By the time we got to the caucuses in 2008 Clinton and Obama were the only choices left

I think Edwards (who I would have supported) dropped out just a couple days before the caucuses. However, the person telling people to write either Clinton or Obama down was totally out of line. The DFL's straw ballot still had all the candidates names on it and you were free to mark down any of them. I caucused "uncommitted".

I'd be a little surprised if we have turnout higher than 2006. In my area we had a pretty good turnout for a non-presidential year and I think anger at Bush had more to do with that than anything else. People are still angry, but I'd guess more of them are disillusioned with both parties and don't know where to go with it. None of the DFL candidates have really caught fire and with the caucuses coming up so fast I don't see where there will suddenly be a big jump in interest - it's not like we've had nearly 2 years of campaign coverage like we did with the 2008 race.

[mascarax]

12. I know, and "uncommitted" was a choice too!

...I didn't think it was right that the guy was pressuring people. He probably didn't see its like that and maybe didn't realize how he came off.

I think you nailed it too: none of the DFLers has caught fire, and the emails I receive are more focused on fundraising (I'm not getting everyone's though).

[Progresseph]

14. Supporting Rybak

After the amazing job he's done in Minneapolis handling crime, jobs, and the budget, I'm pretty confident in R.T. Rybak's ability to lead Minnesota. 2010!