HE'S BACK!

This is the new face of Chris Coleman's campaign.

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John Kerry to stump for Coleman

Ex-presidential candidate turns tables on Bush supporter Kelly

John Kerry is weighing in on St. Paul's mayoral race, a year after the city's incumbent Democratic mayor came out against the U.S. Senator from Massachusetts in the presidential election.

"Chris Coleman is the kind of leader that St. Paul needs -—- a mayor who will put the needs of the people of the city ahead of politics and personal gain," Kerry wrote in an e-mail to be sent to his supporters this week. "He has worked tirelessly throughout his career for a better St. Paul. As the father of two kids in public schools, he understands the challenges Minnesota's public schools face due to the devastating cuts of the Bush and Pawlenty administrations."

The e-mail was released after inquiries by the Pioneer Press to Kerry's Washington-based political action committee, Keeping America's Promise. Kerry is expected to visit St. Paul to campaign for Coleman, possibly in October, presuming the DFL endorsee is one of the top two candidates in next week's primary.

"Obviously we're pleased and honored to have his support and his help," Coleman said Monday. "He is a person who has fought hard for communities like St. Paul over the years, and this is an example of forming relationships with people that truly care about our city."

Coleman's principal opponent, St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly, is the nation's only prominent Democrat up for election to have endorsed Kerry's rival, George W. Bush. The other, U.S Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia, has retired from office.

Reminding voters of Kelly's backing for the Republican has been one of the principal themes of the Coleman campaign. Kerry handily won the presidential race in St. Paul, despite Kelly's endorsement of Bush. Kelly's campaigning for the Republican did, however, make news across the nation from the New York Times to talk radio in Arizona.

Now, Kerry's endorsement and likely visit seem to be an indication of the widening scope of the St. Paul mayor's race.

The names of Gov. Tim Pawlenty and U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman already are circulating among the Republican faithful looking to the 2008 race for the White House. Both Republicans have been stumping for incumbent Kelly, headlining a Summit Avenue fundraiser Aug. 15.

A visit to St. Paul by the 2004 Democratic standard bearer might mark an opening skirmish in a future battle over Minnesota and its electoral votes.

Vince Muzik, Kelly's campaign spokesman, said Kerry's support of Chris Coleman "underscores what we have been saying all along, that we expect to be facing a fully funded and coordinated campaign with millions of dollars behind it."

Coleman called that "ridiculous" Monday. His campaign reported only $25,300 in the bank last week, a fraction of the $400,000 the Kelly campaign has on hand and the $854,000 the Kelly campaign has raised in total from Australia to Belgium.

Still, Bill Walsh, executive director of the state Republican Party, is skeptical of the larger significance of the St. Paul mayor's race. "It's still a Democrat versus Democrat race," he said of the rivalry between Kelly and Chris Coleman. "Any national attention is probably left over from the '04 election. I'm not sure it's not more backward looking than forward looking."

That race, which featured eight visits by the president and seven by Kerry, put Minnesota on the electoral map as a "battleground" state, close until the polls closed and Kerry won its electoral votes.

"This is going to be targeted by both parties next year," Walsh said, noting the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Mark Dayton and that Pawlenty is assumed to be running for re-election.

But DFLers say they're not just thinking about 2006. Chris Coleman's backers have been wooing Kerry by pointing out that the Massachusetts senator gained 22,707 more votes in St. Paul than his Democratic predecessor Al Gore in 2000. Those votes can help offset gains by Republicans in the suburbs and exurbs, Coleman's camp has been arguing, and they need to be retained to keep Minnesota a "blue state."

"We want to let people know that they really need to go out and vote St. Paul," Coleman said. "What you saw last fall was a really enthusiastic, energetic electorate in this city, and we want to keep that up in 2005 and beyond." Source: Pioneer Press, September 6, 2005