With yet another election cycle upon us, it is time once again to choose a candidate for the 6th District that can compete and win against one of the more infamous conservative representatives anywhere in the entire country today.
If the rumors I am currently hearing are true, we will find ourselves with a three way race between perpetual candidate Elwyn Tinklenberg, Dr. Maureen Reed, and current Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark. So, who would you choose?
With Tinklenberg you have a candidate who received national attention and loads of national money after Bachmann opened her mouth and denounced Obama and "certain members" of Congress as Anti-American. Couple that with what appears to be the addition of a big name campaign manager which Tink hopes will seal the deal and you have an organization which could be tough to beat for the DFL endorsement. Yet, for all of his national attention I am not hearing a lot of local excitement about another Tinklenberg v. Bachmann race. Are the rank and file interested in a different direction?
In Dr. Maureen Reed you have a moderate former Independence Party candidate who has been bringing in staggering amounts of campaign cash since she announced her candidacy. With all of that cash, can Reed overcome the advantages currently held by the Tinklenberg Campaign? Given the support in the DFL community for health care reform which includes a public option, how will the Reed noncommittal stance play throughout the caucuses?
Finally, there is the potential entry of Senator Tarryl Clark. At this point it is all hearsay but my anonymous sources tell me that at a recent Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation meeting she was asked and said that she "hadn't announced" but this source also said it was "pretty clear". Clark has proven that she can compete and win having been elected twice. More importantly, she won handily in the more conservative half of her district whose current representative is the ultra conservative Steve Gottwalt. With all of these electoral advantages, could Clark overcome the current money disadvantage she would have coming into the race?
At this point in the process I am not putting my endorsement on ANY candidate (I made that mistake before). So, 6th District DFLers, what are you looking for in 2010 that will defeat Michele Bachmann? Have you decided on a candidate? If yes, what makes your choice the answer to flipping the district blue?
If the rumors I am currently hearing are true, we will find ourselves with a three way race between perpetual candidate Elwyn Tinklenberg, Dr. Maureen Reed, and current Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark. So, who would you choose?
With Tinklenberg you have a candidate who received national attention and loads of national money after Bachmann opened her mouth and denounced Obama and "certain members" of Congress as Anti-American. Couple that with what appears to be the addition of a big name campaign manager which Tink hopes will seal the deal and you have an organization which could be tough to beat for the DFL endorsement. Yet, for all of his national attention I am not hearing a lot of local excitement about another Tinklenberg v. Bachmann race. Are the rank and file interested in a different direction?
In Dr. Maureen Reed you have a moderate former Independence Party candidate who has been bringing in staggering amounts of campaign cash since she announced her candidacy. With all of that cash, can Reed overcome the advantages currently held by the Tinklenberg Campaign? Given the support in the DFL community for health care reform which includes a public option, how will the Reed noncommittal stance play throughout the caucuses?
Finally, there is the potential entry of Senator Tarryl Clark. At this point it is all hearsay but my anonymous sources tell me that at a recent Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation meeting she was asked and said that she "hadn't announced" but this source also said it was "pretty clear". Clark has proven that she can compete and win having been elected twice. More importantly, she won handily in the more conservative half of her district whose current representative is the ultra conservative Steve Gottwalt. With all of these electoral advantages, could Clark overcome the current money disadvantage she would have coming into the race?
At this point in the process I am not putting my endorsement on ANY candidate (I made that mistake before). So, 6th District DFLers, what are you looking for in 2010 that will defeat Michele Bachmann? Have you decided on a candidate? If yes, what makes your choice the answer to flipping the district blue?
Logging you in...
Draft Clark · 820 weeks ago
Blueman · 820 weeks ago
Although Reed is rakin in the big bucks, I don't think they have made a strong connection to the voters as of yet...we're waiting to see more from her other than gaudy fundraising numbers!
With Governor candidates gaining key staffers and such...the longer Clark waits, the more I'm inclined to think she won't do anything.
PaulMN 1p · 820 weeks ago
Rae · 820 weeks ago
Mischa F · 820 weeks ago
Tina · 820 weeks ago
Matt · 820 weeks ago
Her work with the University and in health care prove her command over the issues and allows her to approach the run with some serious professional expertise on two very important topics to Minnesotans and America more generally.
I also agree with Paul that El, while a strong candidate was unable to gain the traction he needed against Bachmann prior to her late missteps. I won't fault him for having $$ left over because of the volume of late donations coming in and the limited availability of remaining TV time; however, it is quite clear to me that it is time for a different approach.
I hope Maureen gets the nod as I think that she can give Bachmann a real run for her money both literally and figuratively!
Kate · 820 weeks ago
Sharkey · 820 weeks ago
MNBlue 11p · 820 weeks ago
Maureen has often stated that her foci in the 6th district will be on job creation, dealing with foreclosures in the district and helping reform health care.
For me, I don't think I could find a better candidate.
Also, it's a little odd that the post isn't tagged under Maureen Reed though it's tagged under El and Clark.
Chris Truscott · 820 weeks ago
@TwoPuttTommy · 820 weeks ago
Sailor · 820 weeks ago
By joining Peter Hutchinson's campaign as his running mate, she proved her political courage by standing up to the anti-managed care rantings of Mike Hatch . While some will claim that this helped re-elect Tim Pawlwnty, preventing Hatch and his DFL cronies from taking over the state was a far greater service.
In a conservative district like the Sixth, it's important that Democrats forget about candidates who pander to their public policy wish lists and put forward those who have the kinds of connections to the executuve and professional class that can amass the resources that can win campaigns.
taxpaying liberal · 820 weeks ago
It’s also great to see so many people thoughtfully articulating Reeds positions which are something Reed has yet to do.
Sailor indicates that Reed is against the public option for health care reform. I’m curious as to what his source is for that. Is that something Reed has told him or written about?
I just don’t see another so called moderate as winning against Bachmann and even if one does what does it get you? Her first statement was that she is a blue dog, Elwyn is a blue dog, Janet Roberts was a blue dog. Why should a democrat like me vote or work to get a blue dog elected?
El’s got a record, Clark has a record, Reed needs one.
If Clark is in she wins the endorsement.
Gary Gross · 820 weeks ago
LITLOC Fan · 820 weeks ago