Whether by design or genuine grassroots (ha!), State Sen. Tarryl Clark and State House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher both have aggressive surrogate operations pushing their names forward for the 2010 DFL gubernatorial nomination.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Tim Walz has been the dream candidate for many since the moment after he vanquished incumbent Gil Gutknecht two years ago.
And Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton are fixtures at just about every DFL event statewide.
But compared to State Sen. Tom Bakk and Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, the aforementioned Wannabe Five is as subtle as Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s leadership qualities.
Gaertner first hinted at gubernatorial ambitions two years ago when asked about a potential Senate bid shortly after her colleague, former Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, scored a blowout victory over ex-U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy. She’s maintained an online presence for sometime now and generally has the most campaign-style literature available at DFL events.
Bakk was a bit late to the game—if more than two years before the election can be declared late—but he gets credit for gusto after sending out a press release last week entitled: “Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council (E)ncourages Senator Tom Bakk, ‘Run for Governor.’” (He might be hurt, however, by his common-sense statements on Al Franken’s Senate candidacy.)
It’s starting to get ridiculous. Where does it stop?
Somewhere there’s a fifth-grader who might grow up to be a great governor. If he wants to run in 2042, however, he better start soon. The first candidates’ forum starts after the 8th-grade midterms.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
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2 comments:
They also better make sure they don't smoke pot during college--opposition researchers will be watching!
This governor thing - it WOULD justify a Draft Ciresi! effort.
Ciresi would be very good at the job, and if he would only show an early interest and commitment, it could winnow the field.
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