Minnesota Politics: What do you have your eye on for Campaign 2006?

I think the majority of voters will end up being nonplussed when it comes to gay marriage and immigration. The fun races to watch will include Bachmann / Wetterling (US Congress) and Klobuchar / Kennedy (US Senate). Also, there might be some contention between Mike Hatch and Becky Lourey for governor.

By "fun", I do not mean to imply that the races will be close - just interesting.

Diana, I totally understood what you meant by "fun". *grin*

Are you keeping tabs via the various media sources or some specific blogs, or a mishmash of everything?

This whole election is going to be HUGE.

Will Bachman's anti-gay marriage crusade cost her or get her the election? Patty Wetterling is well revered for her child abduction issues but she doesn't know squat about much else. This race will be interesting.

Will Kennedy really be all that bogged down by voting with the Pres? Can Amy Klobachar win enough middle of the road voters and still seem liberal enough for her core constituency? This one is HUGE! Just think, two Repulbican senators from the People's Republic of Minnestota! Wow, the tide has changed. It all started when a guy named Humphrey finished last.

This will be a big "I told you so" election. We will find out if the Repubs are hurt by Bush's popularity decline and whether the Dems can get elected without talking issues and just Bush bashing. I would be very, very careful on both sides. I don't know how it will play out. Of course, all responses to this thread are dead certain they of course, are correct. I know who I'd like to win, but it think its going to be close, and ugly.

I predict Bachman and Klobachar will win. Bachman's district is full of upstanding church-goers and pro-life farmers etc that will turn out in spite of Bush's problems. But at the state level, I doubt Kennedy will be able to make the same claim.

It will be interesting to see what role the Libertarian-turned-Republican Gov. candidate plays in the race. If she loses the primary, will see petition to get on the ballot as an Independent?

Now that the Green Party lost its major party status, how active will they be this election cycle?

Klobachar makes me nervous. She spews on about the influence of lobbyists in Washington, but never mentions the fact that she made a million dollars as a lobbyist over a twelve year span.

She's like Mr. Whipple with the Charmin toilet paper! Hurl!

Not to be a pill kris, but it's Klobuchar, not Klobachar. Who cares what she made as an advocate? Most enlightened people can tell the advocate community from the lobbyists. We should be proud that Emily's list, MoveOn and other enlightened progressive groups are backing Amy. Your tight shirt may inspire your red neck friends to vote, but it does nothing for me. Are you saying that Amy Klobuchar goes around squeezing rolls of toilet paper? That's what I remember from mr. Whipple.
What Amy is doing is making the Minneapolis streets safe. Her initiative to play opera music on Block E has made a non violent statement to the MS-13 druglords from Central America. We love you, we respect you, we will not report you. Please love us and enjoy the music!

Looks like Minneapolis has become a whole lot safer since she's been around.

View Amy's lobbyist registrations:

Minnesota Association of Community Rehab Organizations
Ford Motor Company
Global Crossing
Hearing Industries Association
Microvoice Applications
Minnesota Habilitation Coalition
Waldorf Corporation
MCI
MSH (Minnesota Society of Hipporcites)

Global Crossing? Weren't they the Democrat's version of "Enron". Of course, though the MSM made less of an issue about it because it involved Democrats.

It will be fun to watch the coverage or lack of coverage on Keith Ellison's past. Being an active and a vocal member of the Nation of Islam, his association in that group scares me as a Christian, even more if I was Jewish.

Will MPR and the Star Tribune ask the difficult questions? Or will they just let it fly under the radar and not make an issue of it? I thought they were objective?

If you are Jewish, can you vote for him? I'd like to know your opinion.

Julia, think MPR will aggressively pursue the Ellison issue? Ask the tough questions? An Anti-Semite running for Sabo's spot! That sounds like a great story to me.

Another race to watch is for Attourney General of Minnesota. Democratic canididate Matt Entenza's wife, Lois Quam is an executive with United Health Care, and she just received one of those multi-million dollar sweet stock option deals. The current AG, Mike Hatch has been a watch dog over HMO's and the health care system. Does Entennza have a conflict of interest?

Julia, do your watch dog reporters plan on fully reporting this? Think the Star Tribune will make a big deal of it? The state will be watching for objective reporting on this. It would be a bid deal if it were a Republican, but seeing it is a Democrat, the standards are a little different. RIght Julia?

I just heard that, after calling Kline a Nazi, Colleen Rawly just lied again about John Kline on her website. She claims he supports putting troops on the Mexican boarder...except Kline has never made such a statement. I really doubt she has character for the job.

I bet the Star Tribune endorses Rowley over Kline.