DFL ACTIVISTS WANT KLOBUCHAR TO PARTICIPATE IN DEBATE
Democrat Bell struggles for standing in Senate contest
Ford Bell is an imposing figure, measuring 6 feet 5 inches from head to toe. But as the Democrat wages a campaign for U.S. Senate, he's been treated by some in his party like he's invisible.
While political pundits and the Democratic establishment have largely overlooked his candidacy, Bell is the only thing standing between front-runner Amy Klobuchar and the Democratic nomination - at least for now.
That could change as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, when Mike Ciresi is expected to announce his 2006 plans. Bell, and other prominent Democrats, believe Ciresi - a wealthy trial attorney and Senate candidate in 2000 - is going to give it another shot.
But Bell, a veterinarian and a first-time candidate with an impressive resume of activism and community service, is mounting a serious, if unconventional, effort to transform himself from a footnote into a real contender.
Without great personal wealth, strong fundraising connections or name ID, he's still a long shot. But after six months on the trail, Bell gained some traction last week after Patty Wetterling quit the race - momentum he believes he can build on, even if Ciresi runs.
"Mike coming in adds another voice to the debate. It makes it more wide-open," Bell said. "That helps set me aside from the typical candidates."
When Wetterling, a children's safety activist, dropped out of the race and endorsed Hennepin County Attorney Klobuchar, Bell came out swinging. He charged that Democratic power brokers were engineering Klobuchar's ascent, and drew parallels to Republican leaders, whom Democrats criticized for early and unequivocal backing of U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy as the party's Senate candidate.
"The Republicans had their anointed candidate," Bell said. "Democrats need to show that we're a party of candidates and ideas, and if we do, in the end we'll be stronger."
Klobuchar and Wetterling dispute that party leaders engineered the withdrawal and endorsement. Klobuchar said she's earned the front-runner spot through hard work, extensive organizing and fundraising prowess.
"When I started this race a year ago, they didn't even know how to say my last name in Washington," Klobuchar said. "I earned their respect by getting out there, garnering the political and grass roots support, by showing I had a strong campaign and could win the support of the public."
Through the third quarter of last year, Bell raised only a small fraction of Klobuchar's haul. She took in $500,000 and had $1.4 million in the bank, nearly keeping pace with Kennedy, while Bell raised $130,000 and reported $110,000 in the bank.
Fundraising numbers for the fourth quarter of 2005 must be filed by Tuesday, and Democrats will be watching Bell's report closely to see if his effort is picking up steam.
While Bell is careful not to draw too close a parallel to DFL icon Paul Wellstone, he said he is taking some cues from the late senator's underdog campaign in 1990.
"Rudy Boschwitz outspent Paul Wellstone 5-to-1," Bell said. "But Paul's ideas and commitment to issues trumped the money."
With Wetterling out of the race, Bell is the Democrat closest to the party's vocal anti-war contingent.
Bell favors pulling U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year. Klobuchar is similarly critical of the Bush administration's handling of the war, and is calling for a significant drawdown of U.S. troops, but hasn't endorsed a timetable for full withdrawal.
After Wetterling's exit, Bell scored an important symbolic victory last week when state Rep. Alice Hausman, a well-regarded member of the party's liberal wing, withdrew her support from Klobuchar and threw it to Bell, calling for a more full airing of issues on the Democratic side.
"'I thought, 'We aren't even going to discuss the issues?'" Hausman said at a press conference with Bell.
Lynn Soetebier, a DFL activist in St. Paul who intends to be a convention delegate this summer, said she's not ready to accept Klobuchar - or anyone - as the front-runner.
"I want to know more," Soetebier said. "From what I hear now, it's politics as usual. I'm not hearing anything different from her, I don't hear that she's going to do what I want."
Klobuchar called such criticism unfair. She pointed out she's already participated in four debates among the Democratic candidates, and accepted an invitation for another one on March 3.
"This is all par for the course," Klobuchar said. "We've had candidates in the race and out of the race. I'm in it for the long haul."
As for Ciresi, he's stayed mum, only saying earlier he'd announce his plans this week. DFL state party officials said they expect he'll hold a press conference on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The lead attorney in the state's successful 1998 lawsuit against Big Tobacco, Ciresi started out the 2000 Senate race as front-runner, but was overtaken when Mark Dayton entered the race. If he runs, his considerable personal wealth would immediately make him a force to be reckoned with.
Bell may tower over his opponents, but he hopes to parlay the recent attention into a permanent niche as the candidate of the little guy.
"I've spent my entire life in the community," Bell said. "I'm not a businessman, I'm not a practicing attorney. I'm not talking in platitudes and bromides. People very clearly want to have a candidate who's taking a stand and talking about issues." Source: Associated Press, January 29, 2006
Ford Bell is an imposing figure, measuring 6 feet 5 inches from head to toe. But as the Democrat wages a campaign for U.S. Senate, he's been treated by some in his party like he's invisible.
While political pundits and the Democratic establishment have largely overlooked his candidacy, Bell is the only thing standing between front-runner Amy Klobuchar and the Democratic nomination - at least for now.
That could change as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, when Mike Ciresi is expected to announce his 2006 plans. Bell, and other prominent Democrats, believe Ciresi - a wealthy trial attorney and Senate candidate in 2000 - is going to give it another shot.
But Bell, a veterinarian and a first-time candidate with an impressive resume of activism and community service, is mounting a serious, if unconventional, effort to transform himself from a footnote into a real contender.
Without great personal wealth, strong fundraising connections or name ID, he's still a long shot. But after six months on the trail, Bell gained some traction last week after Patty Wetterling quit the race - momentum he believes he can build on, even if Ciresi runs.
"Mike coming in adds another voice to the debate. It makes it more wide-open," Bell said. "That helps set me aside from the typical candidates."
When Wetterling, a children's safety activist, dropped out of the race and endorsed Hennepin County Attorney Klobuchar, Bell came out swinging. He charged that Democratic power brokers were engineering Klobuchar's ascent, and drew parallels to Republican leaders, whom Democrats criticized for early and unequivocal backing of U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy as the party's Senate candidate.
"The Republicans had their anointed candidate," Bell said. "Democrats need to show that we're a party of candidates and ideas, and if we do, in the end we'll be stronger."
Klobuchar and Wetterling dispute that party leaders engineered the withdrawal and endorsement. Klobuchar said she's earned the front-runner spot through hard work, extensive organizing and fundraising prowess.
"When I started this race a year ago, they didn't even know how to say my last name in Washington," Klobuchar said. "I earned their respect by getting out there, garnering the political and grass roots support, by showing I had a strong campaign and could win the support of the public."
Through the third quarter of last year, Bell raised only a small fraction of Klobuchar's haul. She took in $500,000 and had $1.4 million in the bank, nearly keeping pace with Kennedy, while Bell raised $130,000 and reported $110,000 in the bank.
Fundraising numbers for the fourth quarter of 2005 must be filed by Tuesday, and Democrats will be watching Bell's report closely to see if his effort is picking up steam.
While Bell is careful not to draw too close a parallel to DFL icon Paul Wellstone, he said he is taking some cues from the late senator's underdog campaign in 1990.
"Rudy Boschwitz outspent Paul Wellstone 5-to-1," Bell said. "But Paul's ideas and commitment to issues trumped the money."
With Wetterling out of the race, Bell is the Democrat closest to the party's vocal anti-war contingent.
Bell favors pulling U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year. Klobuchar is similarly critical of the Bush administration's handling of the war, and is calling for a significant drawdown of U.S. troops, but hasn't endorsed a timetable for full withdrawal.
After Wetterling's exit, Bell scored an important symbolic victory last week when state Rep. Alice Hausman, a well-regarded member of the party's liberal wing, withdrew her support from Klobuchar and threw it to Bell, calling for a more full airing of issues on the Democratic side.
"'I thought, 'We aren't even going to discuss the issues?'" Hausman said at a press conference with Bell.
Lynn Soetebier, a DFL activist in St. Paul who intends to be a convention delegate this summer, said she's not ready to accept Klobuchar - or anyone - as the front-runner.
"I want to know more," Soetebier said. "From what I hear now, it's politics as usual. I'm not hearing anything different from her, I don't hear that she's going to do what I want."
Klobuchar called such criticism unfair. She pointed out she's already participated in four debates among the Democratic candidates, and accepted an invitation for another one on March 3.
"This is all par for the course," Klobuchar said. "We've had candidates in the race and out of the race. I'm in it for the long haul."
As for Ciresi, he's stayed mum, only saying earlier he'd announce his plans this week. DFL state party officials said they expect he'll hold a press conference on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The lead attorney in the state's successful 1998 lawsuit against Big Tobacco, Ciresi started out the 2000 Senate race as front-runner, but was overtaken when Mark Dayton entered the race. If he runs, his considerable personal wealth would immediately make him a force to be reckoned with.
Bell may tower over his opponents, but he hopes to parlay the recent attention into a permanent niche as the candidate of the little guy.
"I've spent my entire life in the community," Bell said. "I'm not a businessman, I'm not a practicing attorney. I'm not talking in platitudes and bromides. People very clearly want to have a candidate who's taking a stand and talking about issues." Source: Associated Press, January 29, 2006
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