Keith Ellison's most excellent reelection campaign
With all the hoopla surrounding the presidential race, the Minnesota Senate race between Al Franken and Norm Coleman, Ashwin Madia's campaign to replace the retiring Jim Ramstad in MN-03, Elwyn Tinklenberg's effort to oust bat-**** crazy Michele Bachmann in MN-06 and Steve Sarvi's attempt to unseat the ultra-conservative John Kline in MN-02, there is another race which is quite critical. But not how you might think.
Keith Ellison faces an easy reelection bid. His opponent doesn't seem to know the Federal Election Commission from the Federated Electrical Contractors. Keith could just coast to an easy reelection.
Instead, he's hired 25 staffers. He and his campaign have been working hard last spring, all summer and this fall to explode the vote in MN-05. Why is this significant? Because it is the highest percentage Democratic House district in the country. Chances are that if Keith's campaign can turn out over 95% of registered it will make a huge difference for Obama and Franken.
If you live in Keith's district, check out GOTV For Change. It's the coordinated effort for Obama, Franken, Ellison and all the local candidates.
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What kind of garbage is
What kind of garbage is this? "Big E" - is that Ellison? - writes: "Keith Ellison faces an easy reelection bid. His opponent doesn't seem to know the Federal Election Commission from the Federated Electrical Contractors."
First of all, Ellison has two opponents, not just one. Didn't the blogger know that? If he or she relied on the Star Tribune's My Vote, that was a mistake. The newspaper didn't correct its error until several days ago. But the blogger might have checked with the Secretary of State's website.
What's this reference to the "Federated Electrical Contractors"? I never mentioned anything like this and I doubt if Barb Davis White, the Republican candidate, did either. So it amounts to ignorant rhetoric - unless someone can explain the reference as a fact of some sort.
Does Ellison seem headed for "an easy reelection"? Yes, if the monopoly newspaper of Minneapolis - the Star Tribune - refuses to report anything about this campaign until the last week, when it does a hatchet job on the two disfavored candidates, the favored candidate may be able to coast along to victory. But the Star Tribune will pay for this in an increasing reputation for sleazy journalism. Fifth District voters will not gain from the distortions either. We're sliding into an ever deeper pool of mediocrity as a political community - a place which once produced Stassen, Humphrey, and McCarthy.
Otherwise, I prefer to wait until next Tuesday to see how badly I and the Republican candidate will be beaten.
Bill McGaughey, Independence Party candidate for Congress in Minnesota's 5th District