NO JOKE: STEVE MURPHY FOR GOVERNOR
April Fool's Day is still a few days away, so this story must be legitimate.
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Murphy considers top post
Sen. Steve Murphy’s office is on the top floor of the state Capitol, but it’s a higher office that has piqued his interest.
Murphy, a DFLer from Red Wing, said this week that he is “strongly considering” a bid to unseat Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty next year.
“I think it’s time (for) a governor that actually has the best interests of the state of Minnesota in mind, instead of looking at national fame and national politics,” Murphy said, noting former
Gov. Jesse Ventura’s status as a political pop star and speculation that Pawlenty is eying a run for national office in 2008.
A four-term lawmaker, first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1992, Murphy said he has been thinking for the past year about running for governor. He is the current chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Murphy said he has not formed an exploratory committee nor an official campaign, but he claims that both DFL activists and people outside the party have encouraged him to run.
“It’s legitimate. We’ve been kicking the idea around for a while,” he said in an interview with the R-E.
Murphy doesn’t believe Pawlenty has long-term vision for the state. "He’s a nice guy. He’s pleasant to talk to. I just don’t agree with the Taxpayers League running the state," said Murphy, taking a jab at Pawlenty’s pledge to not raise taxes.
A campaign spokesman for Pawlenty did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Murphy represents the same area as House Speaker Steve Sviggum and Rep. Jerry Dempsey, both Republicans. The senator said he’s established credibility as a moderate by winning in a conservative-leaning district.
But local GOP activists consider Murphy’s title of Senate Majority Whip proof that he toes the party line.
"I don’t see him as a moderate at all," said Howard Stenerson, chairman of the Goodhue County Republican Party. "He tends to support party interests even over the regional interests sometimes."
Leaders of Murphy’s party, however, said he would make a strong gubernatorial candidate.
"There’s no question that Senator Murphy would be taken very seriously if he were to run for statewide office," said Mike Erlandson, chairman of the Minnesota DFL Party.
The election is still about 20 months out, but Murphy’s announcement puts him in a growing group of DFLers who are thought to be considering a run for governor. That list includes Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch, state Sen. Steve Kelley of Hopkins and Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson of Willmar. Source: Red Wing Republican Eagle
##
Murphy considers top post
Sen. Steve Murphy’s office is on the top floor of the state Capitol, but it’s a higher office that has piqued his interest.
Murphy, a DFLer from Red Wing, said this week that he is “strongly considering” a bid to unseat Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty next year.
“I think it’s time (for) a governor that actually has the best interests of the state of Minnesota in mind, instead of looking at national fame and national politics,” Murphy said, noting former
Gov. Jesse Ventura’s status as a political pop star and speculation that Pawlenty is eying a run for national office in 2008.
A four-term lawmaker, first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1992, Murphy said he has been thinking for the past year about running for governor. He is the current chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Murphy said he has not formed an exploratory committee nor an official campaign, but he claims that both DFL activists and people outside the party have encouraged him to run.
“It’s legitimate. We’ve been kicking the idea around for a while,” he said in an interview with the R-E.
Murphy doesn’t believe Pawlenty has long-term vision for the state. "He’s a nice guy. He’s pleasant to talk to. I just don’t agree with the Taxpayers League running the state," said Murphy, taking a jab at Pawlenty’s pledge to not raise taxes.
A campaign spokesman for Pawlenty did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Murphy represents the same area as House Speaker Steve Sviggum and Rep. Jerry Dempsey, both Republicans. The senator said he’s established credibility as a moderate by winning in a conservative-leaning district.
But local GOP activists consider Murphy’s title of Senate Majority Whip proof that he toes the party line.
"I don’t see him as a moderate at all," said Howard Stenerson, chairman of the Goodhue County Republican Party. "He tends to support party interests even over the regional interests sometimes."
Leaders of Murphy’s party, however, said he would make a strong gubernatorial candidate.
"There’s no question that Senator Murphy would be taken very seriously if he were to run for statewide office," said Mike Erlandson, chairman of the Minnesota DFL Party.
The election is still about 20 months out, but Murphy’s announcement puts him in a growing group of DFLers who are thought to be considering a run for governor. That list includes Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch, state Sen. Steve Kelley of Hopkins and Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson of Willmar. Source: Red Wing Republican Eagle
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