In a surprise, Sen. Mark Dayton of Minnesota today announced that he will not seek re-election next year. Among other ripples, this news should come to the chagrin of the proprietors of this blog.
Speculation will now run towards who will run to replace him- I’d imagine the usual suspects will include the usual suspects from the various MN political families, whether the Humphreys or Mondales- the DFL might be just dumb enough to do something like that. Attorney Mike Ciresi’s name has been brought up as well and if it’s him, expect to these the word “trial lawyer” derisively uttered on Power Line every day. I’m also hearing rumblings about (urp) Jesse Ventura and (double urp) Al Franken.
UPDATE: Franken's not running. But I'm also hearing Alan Page- that would be great.
Posted by Stephen Silver at February 9, 2005 09:40 PMAmy Klobochar has also been named as a front runner along with Ciresi. Jesse is a bad rumor and besides he's to busy braiding his beard.
Posted by: at February 10, 2005 02:35 AMAll the buzz this morning is that Franken is announcing a candidacy today...
if it makes MN feel any better...Jerry springer is floating the idea of a Gubernatorial run in OH in 2006...
Posted by: jaws at February 10, 2005 11:12 AMWhy is it that Jesse Ventura being in political office is still a joke?
He was more true to his constituency than most politicians
- He ran on a platform that he primarily stuck with as governor and he was not easily swayed by the media or the polls. I believe that he was much better than Pawlenty is now and he didn't have either the house or senate to support him like Pawlenty does.
- He got out the vote. Even though it was a joke at first, he followed through and ran a true "grassroots" style election.
- And after one term he returned to private life (with a failed attempt to be a pundit).
Now he could be a jackass in public (timberwolves games); but that's who we voted for.
I didn't always agree with him, but I appreciated his honesty.
If he were to run for Senate, I would take him seriously and I know he would represent Minnesota better than Kennedy does now.
With all that, there is no way he would run for senate because he simply hates the media too much.
Posted by: Jeff S at February 10, 2005 09:44 PMI agree that Page would be the best - you can't really beat a combination of former Viking/state Supreme Court Justice/African American. And he has relatively high name recognition. Another name I've heard is Patty Wetterling, although she'll probably run for the House seat she lost to evil Mark Kennedy last fall.
However, the real reason I'm posting is that I found your blog in Googling Mim Kagol, which pulled up a few of your posts. I, too, am a Park High alum ('92) and former Echo staffer. Although I'm not a journalist anymore, I'm a grad student studying media and politics, and I attribute both my interest in such stuff and my ability to write well to Mim and a smattering of others in the Park High English Dept. Go Orioles!
Posted by: Spice at February 12, 2005 06:13 PM