What about Congresswoman Betty McCollum?
I would have liked to see Judy Dutcher run, but she's lost too many times...
And Steve Kelley has lost way too many primaries, though....
Ideally, the DFL should pick someone who can rack up the rural votes against Norm...
I like McCollum, and as my signature shows, she certainly can win, this state will take Twin Cities liberals over Bush lackeys. But if you want someone who can win the rural areas, she's not it. The problem is she's got too much of an anti-gun record, this is typically an issue the DFL manages to downplay, but when you show pictures of yourself at the Million Mom March on the front page of your campaign site like she did this year, that's not easy.
This is worth pointing out though: You don't need the rural votes to win. Mondale did win the rural votes over Coleman, in fact he carried every county Kerry did + some. Kerry didn't do so well in the rural areas, and still won.
Kelly hasn't lost too many primaries, he's only lost one, (he dropped out of the governor's race after the endorsement). and they were both in the same cycle anyway.
How about a Democrat from Northeast Minnesota?
That's not really a good idea, for the same reason running someone from the far out exurbs (like Kennedy) isn't for the GOP. The reason is simple: That area will vote heavily for the Dem anyway. You might think northeast Democrats would be better candidates as they are often pro-life and pro-gun. However if you want such a candidate, it's better to run someone from western Minnesota. Dean Johnson would be perfect, but his loss pretty much puts a fork in that.
Coleman's voting record is like Kennedy's. We saw how Kennedy claimed to be bipartisan and moderate, and how many people actually bought it. We aren't stupid.
Plus the Republicans screwed him by holding their convention in his home city. Now let's watch him try to distance himself from the national party.
I loved how at the victory party when he came on TV, everyone started booing. The only other person booed was Bachmann. Kennedy was booed, we all just laughed at him. Then someone yelled out "What the hell is this idiot on?" and another yelled "Enjoy your last two years in the Senate Norm!"
Bumper sticker a friend is going to try to get made: Hey Norm, You're Next!
Most of the things that make a person bipartisan or moderate never show up on the voting record, unfortunatly. The kinds of behind the door meetings that go on in order to win others to your side are not publicized, and the fact that one can only vote one of two ways on a bill tends to badly screw the voting records of Center-right and Center-left Congressmen and Senators.
Of course, the average voter is too stupid to realize this, and the average hack doesn't care.
Oh come on. Do you honestly believe Kennedy was anything but a complete Bush hack?
Just admit it. Your golden boy Kennedy, who you were so sure our state would be willing to accept and was quite strong, was by far one of the most godwaful candidates the GOP ran this cycle, and a complete disaster. And he's also possibly to thank for my new congressman Walz.
Did Coleman really change his last name so people wouldn't know he is Jewish? Or am I thinking of the wrong guy?
yes, he did do that.
Now as far as possible candidates besides McCollum and Kelly, I think Ciresi wouldn't be so bad even if he's a retread, he didn't run this year though which I found odd. Kelly Doran might run again, even though he's just your typical "rich guy with no political experience but lots of money" candidate, he is pretty likeable and lots of money like Dayton certainly doesn't hurt. Only problem is he ran for two offices this year (First Senate, then dropped out and ran for Governor) and dropped out of both before the primary. These might seem like second or third-tier candidates, but remember how many people though Klobuchar was horrible? The good news is we also have strong candidates on the horizon, Lori Swanson, Rebecca Otto and Mark Ritchie could all be good for higher office later (especially Ritchie. He was the best candidate we ran this cycle by far), but they need more experience in thier current positions before that. We also have a much better backbench in this case than the GOP (the above + Walz who also would make a great statewide candidate some day), all they have is Pawlenty (who I bet will run against Klobuchar in 2012) and well...a congressional delegation consisting of a guy who never intends to ever leave his House seat and two complete nuts who will never win statewide.
If he's interested, I'd just say go with Hatch. As Claire McCaskill can tell you, losing a close race for Governor certainly doesn't ruin any chance at Senate.
