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THE HILL: “DEMOCRATS COULD LOSE HOUSE SEAT TO OBAMA SELECTION FOR CABINET”
By Michael B. Brodkorb | November 21, 2008
The Hill is reporting (ht to MPR’s Polinaut) that Congressman Collin Peterson is being considered for secretary of Agriculture and that Republicans would likely win his congressional seat in Minnesota.
“Republicans could gain another House seat in the 111th Congress — thanks to the newly elected Democratic president.
Barack Obama’s choice for secretary of Agriculture could take one Democrat from the 20-seat pickup the party gained by way of the recent elections. (Three House races have yet to be called and two seats in Louisiana will be filled on Dec. 6.)
According to reports, Obama is considering Reps. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) for the USDA post. His transition team declined to comment on Cabinet speculation.
Both members have agriculture experience, but they also come from GOP-leaning districts.
Peterson’s rural western Minnesota district has trended red in recent years and it went for President Bush in both the 2000 and 2004 elections. It took Peterson four attempts before he was finally elected in 1990. With a large wheat-farming industry in his district, he moved quickly up the ladder of the House Agriculture Committee and became its chairman in the Democratic takeover.
And this isn’t his first mention as a possible Cabinet choice. He was talked about for the same spot under President Bush.” Source: The Hill, November 19, 2008
Click here for the complete story.
Leave a comment on this post about who you think would run if Peterson was picked by Obama.
Topics: Uncategorized | 18 Comments »
November 21st, 2008 at 1:44 pm
No way will he take the job unless they make it less of a public relations job and give him more power.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Another Peterson, this one named Aaron.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I would bet AGAINST Aaron Peterson running.
His father, Doug, who has been making strong hints that he wants into the Governor’s race would be a possible option. As would a sitting member of the legislature like Kent Eken or Al Juhnke.
November 21st, 2008 at 2:16 pm
The most of the district is much more conservative thatn district 20 is. It would have to be a conservative democrat but more likely it would go Republican. But it ain’t happening so why worry.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Maybe Ashwin Madia could move into the district and run!
November 21st, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Pete-
You’re not going to promote Mike Bredeck as the early favorite?
November 21st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
The Republican bench is pretty thin with slim majorities down at the capital for a governor to pick from. Does the Gov. ruin the slim veto-proof majority in the house?
The only Republicans I know who have kicked the idea around in the past are the current Mayor of Clarissa (McLaughlin), Torrey Westrom, and a few unelected Republicans (Menze). All are unknown.
A Peterson pick by Obama would not make a lot of Democrats happy and there are choices that are better.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Yeah:
But if it’s South Dakota’s person do the Democrats have a bench in South Dakota. Because if that seat gets replaced by a Republican it’s likely to stay Republican for years again. The only reason why it’s held by a Democrat was that Thune didn’t run for reelection in 2002 to run against Johnson.
Futhermore and this might be the more alarming scenario for the Democrats the Republican that runs and if wins can establish a good track record for the horrible 2014 year the Democrats have of defending the Johnson seat along with their other seats.
That might cause it to go to Peterson unless is there a third choice for Obama?
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
November 21st, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Tom… why would Ashwin run up there, his permanent residence has been in the 3rd CD since his family moved to Plymouth years ago?
Do you know anything about Ashwin’s life story? Care to share it with the class?
November 21st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
danbrome,
Tom probably offered that Madia should run there because he is a carpetbagger. He was NOT living in the 3rd Congressional District when he announced his run for Congress. He was living in Minneapolis. While his mailing address may have been at his parents because he was at college in Minneapolis, in the Marines and then living in Minneapolis, he has no significant tie to the 3rd District. But hey, don’t take my word for it. Ask the 50,000 voters who voted for Obama but declined to vote for Madia, allowing Paulsen to beat him by over 25,000 votes. It’s OK Dan…you can stop drinking the Kool-Aid.
It’s not your fault…
November 21st, 2008 at 4:51 pm
What does “permanent residence” mean?
November 21st, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I think it means not owning a house and using your parents as your residence while you live in Uptown. I’m sure danbrome knows, MON.
November 21st, 2008 at 6:28 pm
The governor doesnt get to pick who runs, it is an automatic special election.
SD is not represented by a Democrat bc Thune went for Johnson. There was a Republican that came after Thune, but he killed someone with his car, went to jail, and SHD won the special election. Bigkelow or something like that immediately comes to mind, he was drinking and driving too if memory serves me correctly.
Permanent residence means this, as a college student I have two residences. One is my permanent residence, where my parents live. That address will not change unless my parents move, thus giving me an address that is constant. And then, my other address depends on where I choose to live during college. For two years it was at St Thomas, and then these last two are in the neighborhood. With this, I get to vote in either place I want. Which meant caucusing in St Paul for Obama but voting absentee to vote against Bachmann. Nothing illegal about that, I simply get to choose which one I want to do my civic duty in.
There is a decent bench in South Dakota for the Dems, Tim Johnson’s son who is an attorney is mentioned as is the Senate Minority Leader. Obviously though, the Republicans would have a huge leg up.
If Peterson, I’d give the race a 50-50 shot with maybe a bit more of a lean to the DFL. We have a much stronger bench here and it votes DFL at the local level, just not at the statewide level because statewide usually entails more liberal candidates. A conservative Dem can definitely keep this seat. But like we said, a lot more being chair of the committee than in the department.
Wow, what a civil thread… for the most part. Reminds me of a real political blog that has discussion instead of Star Magazine.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:43 pm
There are plenty of Republicans who could win the district. I think Doug Peterson thinks more of himself than most people out here do and his son Aaron had the good sense to bail out of the whole mess. It is too soon for him to come back and run.
How about the House Minority Leader? He did one hell of a job getting people to run this year.
Oh, and “Leroy”. The Democrats ended up spending $100,000 to beat Bredeck this year – mostly on negative campaign tactics. It is better to lose with honor than win the the Democrats did. Pretty shamefull but I guess that defines the DFL in Minnesota.
Mike Bredeck ran a totaly positive and honest campaign about the issues. He is someone to be looked up to and respected. Can you say the same about Andrew and the DFL?
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:38 am
“as a college student”
Madia wasn’t a college student when he lived in Minneapolis while working downtown. His residency was in the 5th CD. Doesn’t matter where his parent’s lived or where his mail got delivered.
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:03 am
Pete F.
Oh, and “Leroy”. The Democrats ended up spending $100,000 to beat Bredeck this year – mostly on negative campaign tactics. It is better to lose with honor than win the the Democrats did. Pretty shamefull but I guess that defines the DFL in Minnesota.
Mike Bredeck ran a totaly positive and honest campaign about the issues. He is someone to be looked up to and respected. Can you say the same about Andrew and the DFL?
Respected? The DFL winner will now be addressed as the “Honorable”, the republican candidate will be called Mike.
As we are shown here daily on MDE, elections are not a zero sum game, the point is one wins and one does not. That’s the only gain- you win. Andrew won, Mike did not.
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You only have to live in the Congressional District once you’re sworn in. Mark Kennedy moved in 2002 to get re-elected in a different Congressional district with a completely different constituency. So did Kline.
Pete, The House Minority leader is in the First Congressional District not the Seventh. I would love to see him run against Walz.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:29 am
The House Minority Leader does live in the Seventh but isn’t interested in this run. There is a former Speaker of the House who could make a great run against Walz and give him a run also for his money!
Westrom is a perfect candidate–young, energy smart, and dollar wise.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:33 am
“Mark Kennedy moved in 2002 to get re-elected in a different Congressional district with a completely different constituency. So did Kline.”
Did they lie about it?