Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Jim Graves Hardest Hit

You won't have Michele Bachmann to kick around any more:
With an early morning video message to supporters, embattled Republican U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann announced she would not run for re-election next year.

"My dear friends, after a great deal of thought and deliberation, I have decided next year that I will not seek a fifth congressional term to represent the wonderful people of the Sixth District of Minnesota," Bachmann said in the Wednesday morning video. "I've never considered holding public office to be an occupation."
This a good career move, actually. She really didn't have much of a future in Washington, except as a talking head. And since she's leaving, all the touted "investigations" will likely go away without much further comment, because what's the point now, really?  My guess is that some network will hire her as a commentator and she'll still be on television, maybe even more than she is now. Personally, I hope she gets hired by MSNBC.

The guy this hurts most of all is Bachmann's scheduled opponent, Jim Graves, who will now face an unnamed Republican in a district that is strongly Republican and chock-full of potential candidates. The out-of-state money is going to dry up, because no one is going to bother writing a check to help out a guy who's positioned himself as a moderate Democrat. It wouldn't be especially surprising if Graves decides that it's a better move to drop out himself and go back to running his hotel chain instead. Who needs the aggravation?

5 comments:

First Ringer said...

D,

I'd also add that the move crimps (I wouldn't exactly say "hurts"), statewide GOP recruitment efforts since candidates looking to move up may decide on a congressional bid instead. And as you point out, there are a number of potential candidates in the strongest GOP district in the state.

There are 29 elected Republicans in the Sixth, including names often mentioned for higher office in 2014: Kiffmeyer, Daudt, Dean, Ortman. How many will make at least publicly mull a campaign, taking themselves out of the running for governor, senate, or other constitutional office (auditor, etc)?

Mr. D said...

How many will make at least publicly mull a campaign, taking themselves out of the running for governor, senate, or other constitutional office (auditor, etc)?

Probably a fair number of them. I would guess that Kiffmeyer will run for sure. Beyond that, I'm not sure.

I'm less worried about 2014 right now than I maybe I should be, because I suspect that things are going to look much different soon. The DFL is going to be on the defensive on a number of fronts.

Gino said...

the GOP is now a little bit less annoying.

Mr. D said...

the GOP is now a little bit less annoying.

Only a little.

3john2 said...

Ms. Bachmann had her WTF moments, and I disagree with her foreign policy positions, but I like the principles she stood for and her fearlessness, and loved the way she sent the Left over the edge.

I met her at Keegan's a couple of times and the Mall Diva got to talk to her in D.C. when she led a few others down there to protest Obamacare (see link). She even had her photo taken with Bachmann, while Oberstar and the ultra-lightweight Betty McCollum refused to come out of their offices. (We didn't know it at the time, but the the Baby Moose was also present).

http://thenightwriterblog.com/2009/11/09/storm-the-castle/