- We are looking at another recount in the governor's race, but I don't see that Dayton's 10,000 vote lead is going to switch. If things stand, Tom Emmer is really going to be kicking himself for not going after Dayton a little harder -- Emmer decided to run a Marquess of Queensbury campaign and that looks to have bitten him in the butt. If Emmer had gone after Dayton's pecadilloes with half the ferocity that Dayton went after Emmer's, I think the race goes the other way.
- Chip Cravaack pulls it off and knocks Jim Oberstar out of Congress. Oberstar had been there for nearly 40 years. That's way too long and Oberstar's persona in this election was more "get off my lawn" than elder statesman. Cravaack was a very good candidate and I suspect he'll do a good job representing the 8th.
- Even though it looks like Dayton pulled it off, the other really big story of the night is that control of the legislature goes back to the Republicans. My greatest fear was a DFL governor and a DFL legislature, working together for Tom Dooher's wish fulfillment. Instead, we may have a recipe for a different sort of gridlock, in which narrow Republican majorities wear the green eyeshade and Dayton tries to goad the Republicans into spending money that doesn't exist. It could be very interesting, especially since my guess is that Dayton won't be able to hack the pressure of being governor any better than he handled being Senator.
- To that end, there's been a lot of speculation about who will be Dayton's chief of staff, because that individual will be the power behind the throne. Most observers have thought it would be Mike Hatch, but I wonder about that. Just a hunch on this -- don't rule out Matt Entenza. Dayton still owes Entenza big time for drawing enough votes away from Margaret Anderson Kelliher to deliver the primary to Dayton.
- Nationally, it was a very good night for Republicans but there were a few disappointments. I really think California is beyond saving -- if you have the fiscal problems that state faces and the voters still decide to return Jerry Brown to the governor's mansion, there's no way to reconcile it. Kevin Williamson at NRO makes the correct observation, to wit: This election means two things for California: 1. It is now more likely to end up needing a federal bailout, and 2. It is less likely to find Congress receptive to that idea.
Much more to say as learn more, of course.
5 comments:
How on God's Green earth does Jerry Brown get elected? California is and will continue to be a mess, and they apparently won't have Pot to bail them out.
I'm not sure how to read the MN governor's race. I guess that Minnesotans have been getting fleeced by people with the last name of Dayton for so long that they are not only used to it, but actually enjoy the fleecing. Good luck with that nutjob. Dayton is a nice bookend for Franken.
California has Governor Moonbeam and it looks like we might get Governor JimBeam.
Watching both of them is going to be hi-larious!
I live in CA, and I'm scared.
Governor JimBeam
I like it, Swiftee! Dayton wanted to be governor in the worst way and he's going to get his wish.
Gino, I hear ya. Cali is going over the cliff and you've got Moonbeam at the wheel.
I have to say that I was absolutely shocked to see the GOP grab both houses of the MN Legislature, even more shocked than watching Oberstar go down up north. That makes the election of the Grade F Senator a little less horrifying. I am going to enjoy watching him fidget when his "Fleece the Rich" plan for balancing the budget is dead on arrival next year.
Looks like you guys in 50B couldn't get rid of the Champion for Non-Public Bathroom Rights, though...that's too bad.
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