Thursday, June 06, 2013

Emmer is In

Tom Emmer is the first in to replace Michele Bachmann:
“I have never felt more compelled in my life to serve,” Emmer said Wednesday to at least 100 supporters at a park in Delano, his hometown. During a brief dry spell in the daylong rain, Emmer ticked off his reasons for running: the IRS’ targeting of conservative groups, the Justice Department’s search of reporters’ records and what he termed out-of-control spending.

“Is this the legacy we want to leave to our children?” he said. “The answer obviously is no, and the time to act is now.”
Emmer was the GOP standard-bearer in 2010, narrowly losing the governor's race to Mark Dayton after enduring one of the most scurrilous series of attacks I've ever seen on a politician. Since he won't have to worry about Alida Messinger's money or facing the voters of Hennepin and Ramsey counties in this election, he should have a much easier time of it. The question is whether anyone else will get into the race at this point. There are plenty of ambitious Republican pols in CD6, and there are certainly some residual misgivings about Emmer because of the way his campaign worked in 2010. Emmer had ample opportunities to punch back hard against Dayton, but he ran a Marquess of Queensbury sort of campaign while he was getting his eyes gouged out. I would assume that he's learned from that experience and will return fire if needed. Put it this way -- he'd better.

8 comments:

Brad Carlson said...

I'm hearing Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah is seriously considering getting in the race. Since she was Marty Seifert's Lt. Gov. running mate in 2010, it would renew that little rivalry.

I wouldn't mind seeing Emmer get pushed a little. It seems as though many are anointing him to the House already.

Mr. D said...

I wouldn't mind seeing Emmer get pushed a little. It seems as though many are anointing him to the House already.

Agree 100%. I think besides being too polite to the jackals, Emmer also did way too much coasting early on in his 2010 campaign. He has an A-game, but he needs to use it consistently.

3john2 said...

Marquess of Queensbury? I was thinking more in terms of the Capable Kenny Jay.

Mr. D said...

Marquess of Queensbury? I was thinking more in terms of the Capable Kenny Jay.

Heh. I was trying to be polite, Crankbait. Maybe I was channeling Emmer that way.... Yeah, I think he was pretty much operating at Kenny Jay level for a lot of the campaign. Occasionally he rose to the level of "Indian Star" Frank Hill.

3john2 said...

The campaign had all the makings of All Star Wrestling. Mark "Weasel" Dayton, Alida "Miss Elizabeth" Messinger outside the ropes, distracting the referee, Mark Ritchie. Who'd be Mean Gene Okerlund, the outraged announcer, in this scenario - Mitch Berg?

Mr. D said...

Who'd be Mean Gene Okerlund, the outraged announcer, in this scenario - Mitch Berg?

Mitch would make an excellent Mean Gene, unless he wants to try his hand at being Mad Dog Vachon.

3john2 said...

Slot me in as Gorilla Monsoon.

Mr. D said...

Slot me in as Gorilla Monsoon.

Sounds good. I'm debating between channeling Larry the Axe Hennig or Red Bastien.