Posted: 4/28/06
Field of four could be narrowed to one at 6th District Republican endorsement convention May 6
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
A field of four could be culled to one at the 6th District Republican endorsement convention at Monticello High School on Saturday (May 6).
Two of field concede that Sen. Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, has the most delegate support coming into the convention.
ìSheís got a pretty good lead,î said Rep. Phil Krinkie, R-Lino Lakes, adding itís after all a field of four.
ìOur sense is weíre in second place,î he said.
St. Cloud businessman Jay Esmay ó the only military veteran among the Republicans, U.S. Air Force pilot ó also views Bachmann as leading the pack.
Heís hardly cowed.
ìIf I donít win it (the endorsement), itís my own fault,î said Esmay, who sees the Republican Party base as frustrated by spending and mismanagement in Washington and St. Paul.
Knoblach said he is electable
Rep. Jim Knoblach, R-St. Cloud, refuses to speculate on which candidate has amassed the most delegates, but styles the race as between Bachmann and himself. ìI tell them I am an electable candidate who gets the job done,î said Knoblach of his pitch to delegates.
Bachmann, an attorney and second-term lawmaker whose advocacy for the proposed amendment banning same-sex marriage has gained her wide attention, sees herself as a frontrunner.
Her campaign, Bachmann explained, has a ìsubstantial leadî coming into the convention.
ìI can hardly wait to engage in the issues,î said Bachmann of entering the general campaign.
In that both the Krinkie and Knoblach campaigns in recent days issued press releases hammering Bachmann suggests the senator indeed may be the frontrunner.
Krinkieís release spoke of ìsanding the truth,î while Knoblachís purports to reveal Bachmannís vulnerability as a candidate.
Thereís no question a new congressperson will soon be representing the 6th District.
Rep. Mark Kennedyís decision to run for the U.S. Senate opened the 6th District seat.
2 Dems go for endorsement
Two Democrats, child safety advocate Patty Wetterling ó Wetterling lost to Kennedy in 2004 ó and former Ventura Administration Transportation Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg are vying for the Democratic endorsement.
Democrats will take up their 6th District endorsement a week after the Republicans.
All the Republican candidates have agreed to abide by their partyís endorsement.
ìI had many people encourage me to run in the primary,î said Knoblach, saying he decided against it because it could be tough year for Republicans and a primary fight could only weaken whoever moves forward.
Republican State Party Chairman Ron Carey recently downplayed such a primary challenge, saying challengers have abysmal primary records.
While Esmay believes Bachmannís the frontrunner, the lead is no guarantee at the endorsement convention, he said.
He wants to represent the 6th District for the right reasons, he said.
Knoblach talks of electability. ìI think electability if the biggest issue of the race that distinguishes me from Senator Bachmann,î he said.
Krinkie argues heís the ìconsistent conservativeî of the pack. Donít look for differences on social issues, he said. ìWeíre all the same,î said Krinkie.
Bachmann, the only woman in the Republican race, said gender may matter to some delegates. But she doesnít believe in general itís that big of an issue.
Capitol Roundup
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