DID COATAILS OF SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE HELP INCUMBENT MAYOR?
I know for a fact the Republican Party of Minnesota did nothing to specifically help St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly (a DFLer) in yesterday's primary election.
But the Republican Party of Minnesota did help the GOP endorsed Lori Windels in the St. Paul School Board primary election.
Kelly, a former St. Paul legislator for 27 years and incumbent mayor for the last 4, only received 1221 more votes than Windels in yesterday's primary election.
While Kelly is a DFLer, Republicans in St. Paul have been supportive of his candidacy. If the Republican Party of Minnesota hadn't helped out Windels, Kelly may not have survived the primary.
If I was Kelly, I would try and get the endorsement of the Republican Party of Minnesota so his candidacy can be helped by their political operation.
But the Republican Party of Minnesota did help the GOP endorsed Lori Windels in the St. Paul School Board primary election.
Kelly, a former St. Paul legislator for 27 years and incumbent mayor for the last 4, only received 1221 more votes than Windels in yesterday's primary election.
While Kelly is a DFLer, Republicans in St. Paul have been supportive of his candidacy. If the Republican Party of Minnesota hadn't helped out Windels, Kelly may not have survived the primary.
If I was Kelly, I would try and get the endorsement of the Republican Party of Minnesota so his candidacy can be helped by their political operation.
8 Comments:
For once I agree with you. Kelly is a GOP candidate that calls himself a DFLer. He isn't hard-core conservative, but being endorsed by Normy, endorsing Bush (and did he also endorse TimPa?) is a call for help. I don't know if he plans to switch parties like Normy so he can jump the queue to run as a GOPer for a state-wide office or if he is just an idiot. There really is no way he could possibly be re-elected as a DFLer. Not that his chances would be that much better as a GOP candidate, though.
"There really is no way he could possibly be re-elected as a DFLer."
Heh, that's been pretty much the story for "true-blue" DFLers for the past 15 years or so too.
Who knows, Kelly's chances might well be hurt by running as a GOP candidate. We're talking about St. Paul here. It would certainly make the distinction between Coleman and Kelly all the clearer.
One word describes that primary, however: resounding. Say what you will, it would be difficult for even DC-seasoned GOP spin doctors to find a way to explain a loss that big, even in a primary. It's possible that Kelly would pick up a few more votes by switching and seeking the GOP's endorsement, but you're still talking about a city that voted nearly 70% for John Kerry in '04.
I wouldn't count on the Republican Party of Minnesota for anything. They don't give a damn about anyone but themselves. Witness their utter lack of support for the state House candidates last year.
jbnr51 said...
One word describes that primary, however: resounding. Say what you will, it would be difficult for even DC-seasoned GOP spin doctors to find a way to explain a loss that big, even in a primary.
bmetzler:
I think that's called deferred success. Isn't that what Hackett's loss in OH was called? Only Hackett's loss was permanent. Kelly still has a long campaign left ahead of him.
-Brent
Kelly lost big time - and there's no spinning this one.
Kelly might well have been able to get away with switching parties and endorsing Bush (similar to Norm Coleman), but running as a Democrat and endorsing Bush is problematic. Norm Coleman won reelection in St Paul - but when he ran for Governor, he came in 3rd in St Paul.
I have a hard time believing it's just the Bush endorsement that hurt Kelly. My guess is that his money stream being so heavily from outside St Paul also hurts him - especially if he's not spending time campaigning directly to the people of St Paul.
Independent expenditures by the GOP (or associated groups) in Minneapolis generally hurt republican candidates. Cases in point - a hit piece by the state party going after Gail Dorfman backfired and hurt Peter Bell's campaign. Push polling calls for Stenglein backfired and hurt his Mayoral candidacy. Not to mention Mark Stenglein made the monumental mistake of hiring Brian McClung as his campaign manager.
Lloydletta:
Try shaving your lady-moustache and losing 200 pounds before taking a shot at anyone.
P.S. Please tell us about all the winning campaigns you've worked on.
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