Who will be the next DFL stars?

[Dickie Flatt]

2006. The next serious election. Just two years away, and we have two big races: Senator and Governor. Who will we run?

For Senator, if Dayton chooses to seek a second term he will be our man. But rumor is that he might not, for personal or professional (read: party pressure) reasons. If Dayton does not run, who will we put in his place?

For Governor, Mike Hatch is the first name that comes to mind. But I don't know if he has the popularity to unseat Pawlenty. Who will we run against Timmy? If not Hatch, who else is in a good position to unseat Pawlenty?

Then, of course, there are the House races. This time, I doubt anyone could have predicted the challengers we ended up with. But hey, a little harmless speculation never hurt anyone. Who will we run against Kline? Kennedy (or the 6th district republican if Kennedy goes for Senate)? Who will go to the slaughter against Gutknecht and Ramstad?

[Krupskaya]

1. Can you tell me more about "party pressure"

that you allude to? Because if this party is telling him not to run, I am fucking finished with this party.

[Dickie Flatt]

3. just speculating

He's a loose cannon for sure, they might think of him as a liability. But just for clarification I have no information that this is the case and it is pure speculation on my part.

[Krupskaya]

11. Why do you think he's a loose cannon?

This party has looked at outspokenness as a liability for far too long.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. I don't know what she'll run for, and judging from all her public

appearances, she seems to have her eye on moving up, but Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar is smart, effective, and an excellent speaker.

[trotsky]

5. That's just who I thought of.

Plus her name is EXTREMELY well-known throughout Minnesota.

[Carolab]

50. NOT KLOBUCHAR

I am intimate with some DFLers who KNOW her and those who work closely with her.

They said she is VERY divisive and they couldn't say enough BAD things about her.

[scarletwoman]

32. Wouldn't she make a SUPER attorney general?

With Becky Lourey for guv! :D (I do NOT want to see Hatch run for governor.)

sw

[MinnesotaMike31]

4. Hmmmm will Al Franken move back to MN?

His name has been brought up a number of times, more for the 2008 race against Coleman but if Dayton doesnt run maybe Al Franken?

[AlFrankenFan]

17. Al Franken!

I really hope he moves back to Minnesota. I plan on going college there (in California right now), and I would love to do everything I can to get that rat Coleman out in 2008! And if Dayton doesn't run, I still say Franken 2006!

[scarletwoman]

31. Believe me, an Al Franken candidacy will NOT fly here.

A really big loser of an idea, sorry.

sw

[no name no slogan]

47. NO NO NO NO NO NO

We've already suffered through a celebrity Governor, we sure as hell don't need a celebrity Senator as well.

Franken's a funny guy, and a talented broadcaster, but he's definately no Paul Wellstone.

[wellstone dem]

6. Alan Page

might be a less polarizing candidate than Al Franken.

[northernsoul]

15. I've heard (3rd hand) that won't be happening

allegedly, Bill Clinton has contacted Alan Page on numerous occasions to ask him to run for a state-wide office, and Justice Page has politely refused each time. If Big Dog Clinton can't get you to say "yes" - nobody can.

[Bosso 63]

7. what happened to Judy Dutcher?

[Krupskaya]

10. Still tainted...

...by that whole turncoat thing. And she hasn't done much since.

[scarletwoman]

26. YUK! (n/t)

[cynthia]

8. Mark Dayton

needs to run again. He is coming into his own lately and serving up Wellstone wisdom. He needs to be encouraged to run for another term or two at least. He is a man of integrity and dignity, a voice of sanity in a crazy place like Washington, especially with Bush there!

[Krupskaya]

9. I agree...

and the speculation up there makes me nervous and annoyed. Dayton's the best thing we got and if the DFL and Democrats are serious about finally speaking their conscience instead of being conciliatory or negotiating, then he's the one to lead the fight.

Here are my calls:
Jerry Janezich to replace Oberstar OR to run against Coleman.
Amy Klobuchar to run for governor OR to run against Coleman.
Becky Lourey to run for governor OR to run against Coleman.

ETA: I think Franken for anything would be a mistake and would be laughed out of the state. I don't think I'd vote for him.

[dflprincess]

12. Amy Klobuchar is rumored to have her eyes on the attorney general's office

should Hatch decide to run for governor.

[Krupskaya]

13. Hatch doesn't light my fire as governor

...yay! More old white men! But Klobuchar would KICK ASS as AG.

[katinmn]

14. Yeah to Klobuchar!

I can see her in a couple different contests, and doing very well.

[Carolab]

51. NO

See my post above

[no name no slogan]

46. No way in HELL Hatch can win statewide-- not after 1990

He challenged two-term incumbent and DFL-endorsed Governor Rudy Perpich for the DFL's nomination that year. Given Perpich's stature in the state and DFL, it was possibly the stupidest thing any pol could have done. His career hasn't really gone anywhere since then.

Hatch will not go higher than attorney general. The range hates him because he went against Perpich. The big city liberals don't like him because he is/was anti-choice. Most other party activists don't like him because he comes off as arrogant.

Hatch is a decent man, but given his history and his demeanor he doesn't stand a chance running for Governor.

Now Amy Klobuchar, OTOH.... :)

[CatholicEdHead]

19. Hatch will not be a good canidate

I don't think Hatch has a legtimate chance in outstate Minnesota.

Pawlenty has a type of charisma, like it talks about in today's Startribune that needs to be taken into consideration.

Of, course in many suburbs, Democrats are looked at as far-left or, far-far-far left. Which is of course false.

[scarletwoman]

36. It's not the "left" thing, he just pisses people off.

I REALLY hope he doesn't try for guv.

sw

[northernsoul]

54. I know enough former state attorneys who hate him to fill a phone book

Seriously, the people who know Hatch best can't stand him. I have a very good friend who lost her job in the AG's office because of one of his temper tantrums, who is a dyed-in-the-wool DFLer, and she says that she would actually consider supporting Pawlenty if Hatch is in the Gov's race.

[northernsoul]

16. Franken belongs in NY and on the radio

Trying to run Al Franken would do more harm than good in this state.

[scarletwoman]

29. I agree. It would be a really STUPID idea.

I love Franken, but there's just no way in hell the bulk of Minnesota would go for him. The GOP would have a field day tearing him down. The attack ads practically write themselves.

I want someone who's already steeped in Minnesota politics. I know it won't happen, but wouldn't a Tom Rukavina senate campaign be totally kick-ass!!! WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO! :bounce:

sw

[CatholicEdHead]

20. I expect he will

I see no reason he should not run again. He has talked about running again, see today's StarTribune.

[displacedyankeedem]

18. How about Dean Johnson

http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/sendis13.htm

Seems like he might be a solid Senate candidate if (heaven forbid) Dayton decides not to run. It sounds like he's done a fabulous job in the State Senate, and I really think that Minnesota is disinclined to elect another Republican to the US Senate after the 2004 cycle ended how it did.

[wellstone dem]

21. unless he is tainted by

the 2004 legislative session stand off. I like him and think he'd be great, just concerned because the GOP paid big time in this election.

[katinmn]

41. He is a seasoned veteran and can do hardball

We need some of those.

[wellstone dem]

43. Also, his wife is very, very sick

that might make a campaign difficult.

[Eric J in MN]

22. I'd be very surprised if Dayton didn't run for re-electon.

I've seen nothing saying he won't.

[Supormom]

45. I saw Dayton at the DFL party election night

He was conducting interviews with the press and circulating through the crowds shaking hands. At the state DFL convention he was passing out buttons that read Dayton for Minnesota. I believe he has already begun raising money for his campaign. All indications that he will run in 2006.

[no name no slogan]

48. Dayton could be our next Wellstone

He's REALLY grown into those senior Senator shoes. His speech at the state convention was hands-down the BEST one (better than Edwards', IMHO). He also proposed a very realistic six-month plan for withdrawal from Iraq.

I know a bunch of Kucitizens who went to shake his hand at his Saturday night party, and even though he was an early Kerry supporter, he told them to "light a fire under Kerry", and put the pressure on him to stay true to the liberals and progressives who are the backbone of the party.

Dayton is DEFINATELY running again in 2006. I have frieds who've already given one house party for him. If he's up against Kennedy, he'll whoop his sorry @$$ from here to Int'l Falls. Count on it.

[wellstone dem]

23. Tarryl Clark

amazing speaker

[Krupskaya]

38. Tarryl Clark reminds me of a song...

"What Have You Done For Me Lately?"

OOOooooo-yeah.

[Morning Dew]

24. Anyone Know Gregory Gray?

I don't know much about him but I know a lady who was pretty high on him... is he still active?

http://www.ndol.org/leaderresult.cfm?keyword=Gregory%20Gray&contentid=1842

[scarletwoman]

25. He was around alot during the CD and state conventions.

Impressive guy, but after already losing his first statewide race, is he the best choice?

I'm all for Amy Klobachar, or Becky Lourey (YAAAAAAAY!). But, PLEEEEEEEEEZE not Mike Hatch! Bad, bad idea...

sw

[Morning Dew]

27. I wasn't thinking of him for Gov.

just thinking about folks who can run . . .

[scarletwoman]

28. I'd definitely like to see him run again. He's a really good man.

He ran for state auditor in 2002, and really got robbed, imho. I'd support him for anything he wanted to run for, I just think that for governor we need someone who's already been in some sort of visible office.

sw

[Morning Dew]

30. was that the Carol Johnson Debacle?

did he get hosed at the 2002 convention?

[scarletwoman]

33. HE was the DFL endorsed candidate.

He didn't get hosed, but she jumped in and ran as a democrat even though nobody wanted her.

The problem is, most people don't pay much attention to state auditor candidates. So they see a "Johnson" on the ballot, and figure it's a good safe choice. Greg didn't have a very visible campaign in outstate MN, nobody but hard-core DFLers really knew who he was.

sw

[Morning Dew]

34. thanks, I thought that was what happened

I have some knowledge gaps because I float in and out of involvement.

Sometimes I miss a lot.

[scarletwoman]

35. You're welcome.

I've been pretty hardcore involved since the 2002 caucuses. Oy...

sw

[MinneapolisMatt]

37. How about...

Patty Wetterling?!

She's got name-recognition, that's for sure, and she seem like such a decent human being.

One can dream...

Matt :)

Edited to add: I'm not sure what she would run for, but why not shoot for the stars and go for governor?!

[Dickie Flatt]

42. She should run in 06 in 06

Patty for district 6 in 2006. If Kennedy goes for Senate as is expected, it will be an open seat. Patty lost by a respectable margin against a popular incumbant; in 2006 she'll be facing off over an open seat and have the advantage of already having run a full campaign in the district just two years before.

[lojasmo]

39. Well...

Not so soon, but Andi Welti, new freshman rep from Olmsted county....look for him to be a rising star, he's fantastic!

[katinmn]

40. Rybak

But what kind of name is R.T.?

What do those initials stand for?

[no name no slogan]

49. The R. is for Ray

That's what he said on MPR a couple years ago during the first mayoral race. The T is up for grabs, I guess.

RT's an interesting guy. I actually sat across the table from him on the floor of the state convention in May (he lives in my senate district), and he was up and about most of the convention, meeting people, kissing hands, shaking babies, etc.

It was almost like he was campaigning for something already. All he needed was the buttons with "RT" on 'em, and he'd be just like every other elected official there.

[indigo32]

44. I have only two strong opinions here

1. I would be VERY disappointed if Dayton didn't run again

2. I'm not impressed with Mike Hatch.

Amy Klobachar may be a good idea, need to look at her closer, good name recognition though.

I definitely think Wetterling should try again, especially if Kennedy goes on to try for the Senate.

[Carolab]

52. Ted Mondale?

Definitely has the name recognition. Campaigned for DEAN!

[jean]

53. has Roger Moe gone into total retirement from politics?