Dayton, GOP begin to state their cases for 2014 (MN)governor's race

Minneapolis StarTribune (aka The Red Star) ^ | 8/10/12 | Rachel Stassen-Berger

[MplsSteve]

REDWOOD FALLS, MINN. -- Wearing rolled-up sleeves and blue jeans, Gov. Mark Dayton stood in an echo-filled shed at Farmfest last week and offered a first glimpse at his case for a second term.

“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us and much more progress needs to be made,” the DFL governor told the crowd. “Clearly, we are doing many things right and we need to stay on this course.”

The election is still more than a year away, but there are already ample signs of an intensifying campaign as a diverse and potentially growing pool of Republicans try to find their footing in the race for governor. Farmfest has long been an election-year proving ground for candidates trying to connect with outstate Minnesotans. But even in this political off-year, a host of GOP rivals made the trek to the southwestern corner of the state to make some early inroads.

“There are lots of good friends down there,” former House Speaker Kurt Zellers said as he drove back from his Farmfest visit.

Candidates aren’t just shaking hands and munching on fair food. Both sides are hiring staff, recruiting supporters, planning State Fair events and plotting a strategy.

“It will be intense,” Dayton said. “The stakes are high … I’ve seen these campaigns in other states sink to lower and lower levels and I expect it will be the same here next year.”

Although Dayton won by the thinnest of margins three years ago, his political opponents acknowledge he will be difficult to beat. He has enjoyed strong approval ratings in recent polls and is buoyed by a strengthening economy.

[MplsSteve]

I despise the Red Star as much as any discerning Minnesotan, but I have to admit that this article was fairly well-written.

Dayton did win in 2010 - primarily because of a full-frontal (and dirty) assault on the GOP candidate by groups funded by Dayton's ex-wife. The GOP candidate was also gaffe-prone and a little slow on getting out on the campaign trail after he won the endorsement in June of 2010.

I've been around for a while and I have to say that Mark Dayton is truly one of the most clueless and dense governors this state has ever had. He's been a failure as state auditor, as US Senator and now as Governor - but WTF, this state keeps electing this trust fund dork time and time again.

Comments or opinions about the article - anyone?

[MplsSteve]

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[Viennacon]

Yeah, one of the more moronic governors for sure, then again... Jesse Ventura?

But hey, its Minnesota. The state is a lot like Norway.
Cold, lots of Norwegians and Muslims, and very very socialist.

This is the same state that sent (or rather didn’t send) Al Frankenf8ck to the senate, along with squinty Klobuchar. They replaced Chip Cravaack with a 100% dirtbag.

What’s worse, they’re likely to send Al Franken back to the senate in 2014. One bright spot will be Tom Emmer, who is replacing Bachmann. Sounds like a solid conservative.

I doubt the GOP will take the governorship though. Dayton is entrenched just like his disgusting party.

[mosesdapoet]

Basic approach;
Want to make a difference ? Start your own vocal group Be your own precinct captain The piece below is designed to be printed up and passed around your precinct and your friends and neighbors as a (index sized) palmcard. On the face (REVERSE SIDE)or below the slogan you can put the name of the candidate you favor and the election dates...EXCELLENT FOR SLIPPING UNDER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON CARS PARKED IN KEY PARKING LOTS CHURCHES, RALLY SITES....

DEMO-COMS ARE
GOD DENIERS AND PREDACIOUS LIARS
PREACH REDISTRIBUTE
YOUR WEALTH INCITERS/
FIRST YOUR MONEY THEN YOUR GUNS
ISSUING DECREES OF MANY COME
DEMAND SURRENDERING CHOICES ONE BY ONE
INTO REGIMENTATION YOU MUST RUN
AND NOW THEIR ROBOT YOU’VE BECOME
(major theme)

It’s time to get government out of Our faces
Our religions and and Our pocketbooks
VOTE Date and candidate

[Ackackadack]

Here’s one future FReeper vote to send Mark Dayton to the sidelines!

[Solson]

Dayton won through fraud that wasn’t contended by Tom Emmer. The MNGOP is an absolute disaster. There is no viable GOP candidate with the balls to confront what is wrong with this state. I can’t wait to move out of this state. I’m just waiting for my girls to graduate.

[DaveA37]

“......I’ve been around for a while and I have to say that Mark Dayton is truly one of the most clueless and dense governors this state has ever had.”.....

Glad you said,..”one of the most clueless” as there was Mr. Jesse Ventura and we all remember what a dumbasz he was/is.
(But, he did get a TV show, which also failed)

[cableguymn]

same here. however, they keep this up and we are moving between school years.

[Solson]

I wish I could. If I wasn’t divorced, I would have already moved. This place has gone crazy. It’s beautiful, bountiful, and clean. But at a major cost and that cost keeps growing. The difference between the directions of MN and WI are amazing.

[cableguymn]

we moved out of the reach of the met council.. for now.

we look east to WI and wish we had just moved over there.

We bought our house on a lake, we love it, but I am sure WI has some nice lake front homes too.