by T.W. BudigECM Capitol reporter
Whatever Tuesday’s gubernatorial straw poll indicates, candidates do not view it as the final word. “I don’t think it settled anything at all,” said House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, of the DFL race for governor.
On the Democratic side, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak edged out Kelliher in the non-binding caucus straw poll to come in first. With Republicans, Rep. Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, took about 50 percent of the vote to come out on top. Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, came in second, winning about 39 percent of the vote among the seven Republican candidates.
Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, says his campaign is gaining momentum with his second-place showing in a statewide Republican caucus Tuesday night. (Photo submitted)
“This is much bigger than being a Republican or Democrat,” said Emmer. “This is about being a Minnesotan and an American,” he said of the upcoming election.
Emmer spoke of taking a two-pronged message to voters — one of building prosperity through smaller government, lower taxes, other reforms.
Emmer also believes a burgeoning group of voters — some label them Tea Partiers, though Emmer dislikes the label, he explained — reject the notion of politics as usual.
“And they’re really upset with career politicians,” said Emmer. Emmer argues he does not fit that bill. “No — never,” said Emmer, asked if he had thought of running for governor back as a first-time House candidate.
Emmer says campaign building momentum
Emmer views his campaign as building momentum, Seifert’s idling.
The Republican delegate pool is evenly split, Emmer believes and the campaign now entering its retail phase. “It’s hand to hand. It’s face to face,” said Emmer. “I’m selling myself — I believe we (the campaign) will shine,” he said.
Seifert looks at poll results as showing his campaign has a “statewide reach.”
“We’ve been able to prove the momentum,” said Seifert. “I don’t believe we’re peaking too soon,” he said. Seifert points to results in Eagan, in Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s political backyard, as evidence of his campaign’s suburban strength. Indeed, he styled the Eagan results as “bellwether.”
Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Minnesota Public Radio today (Wednesday, Feb. 3) said the straw poll results lent credence to the idea that Seifert leads the Republican race.
Pawlenty deemed Seifert’s and Emmer’s political beliefs as more or less the same.
“But as with all these things, it’s also a matter of style and the way you present yourself, and your ability to bring coalitions together, people together to support you in the endorsing race,” said Pawlenty.
In other Republican poll results, former Champlin lawmakers Bill Haas won about two percent of the vote with Milaca businessman and farmer Phil Herwig taking about one percent.
Other Republican candidates are Bob Carney Jr., Leslie Davis, Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie.
About 19,000 people attended the Republican caucuses.
Rybak wins 22 percent of the vote
On the DFL side, Rybak won about 22 percent of the vote against about 20 percent for Kelliher.
Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, came in third with about 10 percent.
Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, came in fourth with about seven percent of the vote, Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, coming in fifth, slightly behind Thissen, with former state representative Matt Entenza coming in sixth, and Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, coming in seventh.
Other DFL candidates include Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, former state senator Steve Kelley, Felix Montez, and Ole Savior.
Former U.S. senator Mark Dayton did not participate in the caucus.
“The straw poll results reinforced what we have known for months,” said Senate Tax Committee Chairman Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, in a statement. “There will be a number of strong candidates vying for the DFL endorsement at the convention in April,” he said.
Kelliher said she was happy with the results. “I think it was a very good showing,” she said of her share of the vote. Kelliher spoke of continuing a “person-to-person” style campaign.
She views her strength as a candidate reaching the suburbs and into Greater Minnesota.
Rybak could not be reached for comment.
22,000 people attended DFL caucuses
About 22,000 people attended the DFL caucuses.
In the Independence Party, public relations expert and political pundit Tom Horner took 48 percent of the vote to best former U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joe Repya of Eagan.
St. Paul businessman Rob Hahn won about eight percent.
Some 301 people attended the caucus.
The party also held an online caucus, results coming later this month.
Marty won the Green Party caucus.
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