by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

If he didn’t finish among the top three vote-getters in the gubernatorial straw poll Saturday, Oct. 3) at the Republican State Convention in St. Paul, he’d scuttle his candidacy, explained Rep. Marty Seifert. The straw poll was taken and the Marshall Republican is still in the race.

Indeed, Seifert came in first among the nine Republican hopefuls in the straw poll, Rep. Tom Emmer, of Delano, and former state auditor Pat Anderson of Dellwood finishing second and third in the first choice balloting.

Rep. Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, finished on top of a straw poll today (Oct. 3) at the State Republican Convention in St. Paul taken among nine Republican gubernatorial candidates.

“We feel really good,” said Seifert as delegates filed out of the convention at close late afternoon.

Seifert did well in the nonbinding straw ballot across congressional districts, but showing his greatest strength in Greater Minnesota districts.

In addition to a first-choice ballot, a second-choice ballot was also taken.

Hann comes in first

In this, Sen. David Hann, of Eden Prairie, who told the convention that staunch conservatives like himself can win in more moderate districts if they remain easy-going, came in first as the delegates’ favorite second choice.

In the second choice balloting, with in the first choice, Emmer and Anderson finished second and third, respectively.

All three top candidates had elaborate appearances before the convention, with video, flag processions to the tap of a colonial-style drummer, and chants marking their progress to the stage.

In a second poll of delegates' second choice for a party gubernatorial candidate, Sen. David Hann, left, of Eden Prairie, came in first. Representative Tom Emmer, R-Delano, and former state auditor Pat Anderson, of Dellwood, came in second and third in both ballots, respectively. (Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

“Don’t tread on us,” said Anderson in her speech, urging the Republicans to stand together.

A trio of local candidates, Sen. Mike Jungbauer, of East Bethel, Phil Herwig of Milaca, and former state representative Bill Haas, of Champlin, were at the bottom of the balloting in both ballots — the candidates generally winning single-digit vote totals in the congressional districts, and in some districts not winning any votes.

Even so, Herwig and Haas vowed to stay in the race regardless of the vote — both suggesting delegates simply didn’t know them well yet.

“The biggest question I get from delegates is — ‘Who are you?’” Haas quipped to the convention.

Jungbauer calls himself Batman

Jungbauer, speaking to delegates, alluded to himself as Batman — the senator haven been recently bitten by a bat and undergoing a series of rabies shots.

He had felt sick driving to the convention, said Jungbauer, but instead of feeling sorry for himself prayed for others.

“I didn’t believe in myself when I started this process (the gubernatorial race),” Jungbauer told delegates.

But now he feels spot-on. “God put me in the right place for a time like this,” he said.

Environmental activist Leslie Davis, who also finished in the lower reaches of the balloting,

“That will give them (the media) something to report,” Davis joked while speaking to delegates about making him the winner.

Davis indicated that he, too, planed to remain the race.

Expects some candidacies to fold

Even so, Seifert expects some candidacies to fold — he has no intention of encouraging anyone to do it, he said.

Some of the Republican vote-getters were not on the ballot including Rep. Laura Brod, of New Prague — Brod suspended her campaign on account of health issues — along with former U.S. senator Norm Coleman and House speaker Steve Sviggum.

Speculation exists among pols that one of these candidates, or others, will yet enter the race.

Grams may enter race

Former U.S. senator Rod Grams recently spoke of “leaning” toward running but waiting until after the first of the year to decide.

But Sen. Chris Gerlach, R-Apple Valley, a delegate at the convention, believes the election process is so speeded up that it’s already too  late for another candidates to jump in.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty addressed the convention and spoke of new Republicans needing to come forth to advance the cause advanced by earlier Republicans.

Republicans need to remain united, he explained.

“We don’t have enough Republicans in Minnesota to throw people overboard,” he quipped.

In the first choice ballot, Seifert won 454 votes, Emmer 283, Anderson 174, Hann 146, Rep. Paul Kohls, of Victoria, 58, Herwig 14, Jungbauer, Haas and Davis ten apiece.

In the second choice ballot, Hann won 216 votes, Emmer 207, Anderson 182, Seifert, 171, Kohls 128, Haas 46, Jungbauer, 37, Davis 29, and Herwig 20 votes.

DFL State Party Chairman Brian Melendez gave the straw ballot a cool appraisal.

“The Republican straw poll was an interesting exercise that didn’t change by one iota the basic challenge that all the Republican candidates must face: that every one of them have supported Gov. Pawlenty’s disastrous governing style, which has plunged our state toward a $7 billion budget deficit,” he said.

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