Past Minnesota contested primary's

[Demrock6]

I know some of the people here at the Minnesota forum have been involved for a while so I am looking for some insight.

With all the new battles brewing between Amy Klobuchar and Ford Bell for the senate seat, some questions come to mind:

Did anyone challenge Wellstone for the endorsment in the 1990 election?

If so did they go to primary?

If they went to primary did it actually weaken his candidacy? I think Bell would make a better senator. That being said if Klobuchar wins the endorsment and / or primary I will get behind her 100%. Is it really typical that people are so bitter about their candidate loosing that the won't vote for the candidate on the ballot?

I don't see a problem with both campaigns fighting hard until a primary even though some see a big problem with it. Both Bell and Klobuchar are laying the groundwork for the general and a primary is almost a test of who is more prepared to keep Kennedy out of the senate and put America back on track. A state wide primary will also increase name recognition of both candidates in the general. Perhaps Bell wants his name out now to start laying groundwork to run against Norm Coleman.

Am I missing something?

[dflprincess]

1. Someone did run against Wellstone in the 1990 primary

but I can't remember who. I recall his big issue was prolife - I don't think he did all that well.

The most bitter primary fight I remember was when Bob Short challenged Don Fraser (the endorsed candidate). Short won and a lot of us either didn't vote in the senate race that fall or voted for the Republican (Dave Durenburger - who wasn't that bad for a Republican). I can still get bitter about that one - Fraser would have been an excellent senator. Short beat him by pounding on abortion, the Boundry Waters (Fraser was for protecting it) and guns.

On the other hand, Dayton beat the endorsed candiate in the 2000 primary and then was endorsed by the SCC at the meeting scheduled after the primary.

BTW, the last I heard, Klobuchar is scheduled to appear at the Bloomington (Sd 40) meetup tonight. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to make that as I have some family stuff going on. PM me if you want to know where it's being held.

[ISUGRADIA]

4. Bob Short in '78, now that was a bad year for the DFL

two US Senate seats and the Governorship lost to Republicans that year. The Fraser-Short primary is a perfect example of a primary which destroyed any chances of a win in November.

[dflprincess]

5. That was also the year Wendell Anderson resigned as

governor so Rudy Perpich (then Lt. Gov for you young ones or those new to the state) could become governor and appoint Anderson to replace Hubert Humphrey after his death. That little trick did not go over well with the electorate.

I remember the Saturday after the election Weekend Update on SNL reported on the election then added "And Minnesota experienced its first earthquake in one thousand years. Source of the quake was found to be the grave of Hubert Humphrey where the late senator was spinning at the rate of a million RPMs."

[Demrock6]

2. Damn.

Well I bet no matter how angry a primary may make someone, they wouldn't vote Kennedy.

I hope that doesn't happen in Ohio.

[dflprincess]

3. Probably not for Kennedy

but they could go Green or just stay home.

[Demrock6]

6. Might get worse

Mike Ciresi is supposed to announce if he is in or not next week. I heard a quick blurb on the radio but can't find a link.

[trotsky]

7. SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Mike Ciresi


Ken Lay


Oh I know Ciresi is a much, MUCH better human being than Lay, and I would have been happy to vote for Ciresi in the election, but the resemblance between these two is eerie.