[Valin]

Note: Independence Party is an offshoot of the Reform Party. Started by Jesse (Gov. turnbuckle) Ventura, when he lost the ego battle with Ross Perot. If IMHO he does well in the upcoming election we could be seeing the start of a viable third party. (Not that I support them)

[Tuco-bad]

Tim Penny distances himself from past work with Cato Institute

No kidding.

The Cato Institute is funded by the super rich who want every federal benefit for themselves and want the rest of the population to starve.

[Reo]

Penny is getting a lot of buzz up in the North Central part of the state. Mostly one sees Pawlenty (Pubbie) signs, but the buzz is about Penny. Gut feel from this grass root is that Penny has far greater name recognition and the Pubbies and Pawlenty have a lot of work to do.

[Dialup Llama]

This third party would differ from the Democratic party in what meaningful way? Tim Penny is the second Democrat candidate running for gov.

[frossca]

Larry Jacobs, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota, said there is good reason to maintain some distance from such budgetary recommendations. Together, he said, the proposals "would have represented a decimation of the federal economic and social role in American society."

And this is bad because...

[revtown]

Penny is now running for Gov. So he wants the Feds to fund his state programs. Thus making it easier for him to balance the state budget.

The CATO institute wants to limit federal funding at the expense of states.

So Penny has put on a new hat, by distancing himself from CATO, he isn't the 1st politician to do so.

Its going to be a close race, Penny could win. He'll be better than Moe.

[jlogajan]

Political rule number 1 -- say whatever it takes to get elected.

[verity]

Politicians have iron-clad convictions. [sarcasm].

[The Great RJ]

While Penny has great appeal in more conservative southern Minnesota and perhaps other "outstate" areas, he may be too conservative to get the votes of the "Birkenstock liberals" and staunch union DFL voters in the Metro areas.

I predict a close race with no clear winner until the very end.

[Paleo Conservative]

The "Independence Party" sounds like the Democrat Party lite.

[Zeroisanumber]

Penny's actually not bad, somwhat socially liberal but fiscally conservative. Most of the scuttlebutt that I've heard from his supporters leads me to believe that they'll bolt to one of the major parties if the race between Moe/Pawlenty gets too tight.

If I had to pick a winner right now I'd probably guess Moe, but we'll see how things turn out in the next month.

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

Nice Minnesota post.

My $.02 is that it will be a close 3 way battle with Pawlenty eking out a victory. I think this revelation about Penny distancing himself from Cato will serve to hurt him with liberal voters who might have been considering him, and with conservative voters who now see his real colors (pure politician saying anything to get elected). So I think this Cato thing will really hurt him, and I'm glad....

My prediction: Pawlenty 38%, Penny 32%, Moe 30%