DFL RE-LAUNCHES OLD BLOG, RECEIVES CREDIT FOR STARTING NEW BLOG

I tip my hat to Republican Party of Minnesota communications director Mark Drake for getting more space in the DFL's story about their blog than the DFL.

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DFL starts blog to reach more voters

With a momentous state election year underway, the DFL Party launched a blog Wednesday in an effort to reach more voters throughout the state, the party's communications director said.

"We wanted to go beyond typical press releases to reach more Minnesotans," said David Ruth. The blog, www.dflers.org, will host discussions of political issues and will encourage people to post comments, Ruth said.

Along with commentary on issues, the blog will provide "edgy" criticism, he said.

The edginess was apparent in the blog's first postings Wednesday, which included a demand that WCCO Radio discontinue Gov. Tim Pawlenty's weekly show and a critique of Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy obeying "his master, President Bush."

"There is a lot of overheated editorializing," said Mark Drake, communications director for the GOP Minnesota.

"I think the DFL is playing catch-up with the blog in the state," Drake said. "A lot of the energy from blogging has always been on the GOP side."

Although the state Republican Party does not have its own blog, Drake said it has a good relationship with bloggers across Minnesota who promote the ideas and messages of the GOP.
"It is a new medium, but the same old tired DFL attack stuff," Drake said of the new DFL site.

Said Ruth: "If they [Republicans] want to hammer on the freedom of speech, I welcome that. And if it drives more people to our site, I encourage Mark Drake to post regularly." Source: Star Tribune, February 9, 2006

Tags: Brian Melendez, David Ruth, DFL