Pawlenty backs Kennedy; Grams sounds off

[rodeodrive1]

Associated Press


ST. PAUL - There's more activity on the campaign front for the U.S. Senate in 2006.

Gov. Pawlenty today endorsed Republican front-runner Mark Kennedy, a third-term congressman. Meanwhile, Kennedy's only announced G-O-P challenger, former Sen. Rod Grams, lashed out at party leaders for saying the race was over.

With all of the stirring, it's easy to forget that the election is more than a year-and-a-half away. No Democrats have announced campaigns, but two more have withdrawn from consideration -- D-F-L Chairman Mike Erlandson and Congresswoman Betty McCollum

[jean]

1. state Sen Dean Johnson said he won't run for the seat either...the radio

announcer said, after he played Johnson's sound clip (and I don't know if he was quoting Johnson), that a run for Governor might be in Johnson's future.

[no name no slogan]

3. Johnson's wife passed away about a month ago

so I'm sure he's still dealing with that. I could see him running for Gov though-- he'd be a pretty good candidate too, IMHO.

[jean]

5. He seems like a straight arrow to me - means what he says and is

willing to do the hard work to get things done. He's commented many times about taking care of Minnesota's basic needs.

[Demrock6]

2. So Betty is staying in the house.

At least now it is more clear.

[katinmn]

4. Did you see the Strib today? Grams and Gutnecht called

Ebenholzer (sp?) a "kingmaker" along with Coleman and Pawlenty. I've read some LTTEs, too, about party leaders giving the nod to Kennedy.

The poor Republicans don't even need a primary. They can go right into fundraising for Kennedy today.

[no name no slogan]

6. I wonder if Cheney was behind this, too

after all, he was the kingmaker in 2002 for Pawlenty and Coleman.

Ebensteiner, like the rest of the state GOP, are waterbearers for Cheney, Rove and Co. in DC. The only thing they want from Minnesota are the votes of its congressional delegation.

I wouldn't be suprised if they're grooming Kennedy for something bigger, too, like they are Coleman.

[CatholicEdHead]

8. Pawlenty is also on the fast track

expect him to eventually go to DC. There are still rumors he may replace Cheney if he resigns or dies.

[SupormomFreeAtLast]

7. Nice to see the republicans going after each other...

For a change.

[cmutt]

9. Wasn't this delicious?

Grams calling Eben. a "kingmaker"? I don't seem to remember Gram's squaking about "kingmaking" when the original "Coleman/Pawlenty" selections were made on behalf of the state. Of course; this is republican logic at it's best: in support of something when it runs in their favor, and against it when it's not.

[KitchenWitch]

10. Sounds like Grams is tuning up his campaign whine!

He irritates every fiber of my being.

[bvar22]

11. I've decided to announce today that....

..I'm NOT running for Dayton's open Senate seat. I'm sure Democratic front runners will breathe a sigh of relief.

Where can we send campaign contributions and support for Grams?
Time to sow dissent in the Republican Party....Stealth LTTEs complaining that Washington is interfering in our local politics, and that a candidate handpicked by Washington would only rubberstamp the Bush* agenda and NOT represent Minnesota!

I think Grams needs to stay in this race as a matter of personal and Minnesota PRIDE! Withdrawing from the race would be a "girly man" thing to do. A REAL MINNESOTA MAN would slug it out in the primaries....Let the BEST MAN emerge from the primaries BLOODY & BROKE!!!!

[Debliberal]

12. Pawlenty - Mistake for MN

Last thing we need to have is Pawlenty become a US Senator and
screw up the US any more that what the it already is with the
current administration.