Vulnerables in Minnesota

[Lenape85]

It appears that Mark Kennedy (Puke), John Kline (Puke), and McCollum (Dem) could be vulnerable.

Since M. Kennedy appears to have a desire for a senate run, could his seat be up for grabs.

John Kline also appears to be somewhat vulnerable as well, getting only 57% of the vote

Betsy McCollum (D), you might want to keep an eye on; she only got 58%

[Dickie Flatt]

1. thoughts

Kennedy seat could be up for grabs IF we run Patty Wetterling or another VERY strong DFL candidate in 2006. If Kennedy makes a Senate run, and I don't doubt that he will (the last article link posted on his '04 campaign site is titled "Kennedy's deft win may hint at an '06 Senate run"), the GOP will front a well-known candidate; Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer and State Senator Michelle "Marriage Amendment" Bachmann are often mentioned.

Earlier in the campaign season I expected Kline's margin of victory to be smaller, but Teresa Daly fell apart in the last few months of the campaign. She was not a good candidate; she had serious weaknesses that should have disqualified her from being nominated in the first place and she squandered fundraising that at times equaled that of superstar Wetterling. Kline also helped himself by running a relentlessly negative campaign that pounded away at Daly's problems. I will be severely disappointed if Daly returns. Note for '06: run a candidate who didn't donate to Kline.

I am not worried about Betty McCollum; I believe she suffered from overconfidence and did not campaign as hard or as well as she should have, and failed to focus on her opponent's serious weaknesses and now-under-investigation false campaign literature.