Dupe, please delete

[wellstone dem]

What a wonderful and, at the same time, tough night for us here in the 6th District. Barack Obama won, but then Michele Bachmann won her election.

Tinklenberg did out perform the previous election. In that contest, also a 3 way race, Bachmann got more than 50% of the vote, she beat the combined total of the other two candidates by about 600 votes. In this race, she got 46%. Unfortunately, although Tinklenberg had got the endorsement of the Minnesota Independent Party, there was someone who ran as the independence candidate. The combined total of the two candidates beat Bachmann by about 30,000 votes.

This race was a long shot in this district from the start. Unfortunately, the party did not originally see the race as winnable, and so didn't put money into the district until near the end of the race. If that money had come in sooner, then combined with the amazing support that came from people around the country, it might have been enough.

Thank you all so much for helping to support our fight. I can not begin to tell you that along with the welcome cash, your donations brought new spirit, new energy, and new volunteers to the campaign. Thank you so much. I will tell you that your money was not wasted. I and many others worked so hard to earn the support you gave us. I am not one bit sorry for the hours spent walking in parades, doorknocking, and phone calling, or the money I contributed. I am proud to say, that Tinklenberg carried my county by 3400 votes. (McCain carried the county by 5500 votes, so Tinklenberg outperformed Obama in this county by nearly 9,000 votes.)

And although I'm still represented by Michele Bachmann, now I'm also represented by Barack Obama. What a wonderful world, what a wonderful day.