Posted on 09/03/2015 2:50:01 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Even before Kline’s announcement, Democrats were enthused about two female candidates in the race: health care executive Angie Craig and physician Mary Lawrence.
Lawrence, who loaned her campaign $500,000 in the second quarter, had more than $1 million in the bank at the end of the period. Craig had $231,000 in the bank by the end of June.
On the Republican side, multiple party operatives said to expect a crowded primary. Possible candidates include:
•State Sen. Dave Thompson, a former conservative radio host who represents a district south of the Twin Cities. Thompson ran for governor, but dropped out before the primary.
•Former state Rep. Kurt Bills, who unsuccessfully challenged Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2012.
•State Rep. Pat Garofalo, who has been in the state legislature since 2004.
•Former state Sen. Ted Daley, who lost re-election in 2012.
•Businessman Mike McFadden, who unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Al Franken for Senate in 2014.
•State Rep. Rod Hamilton, who first came to the state legislature in 2004.
•David Gerson, a libertarian who unsuccessfully waged a primary against Kline in both 2012 and 2014.
GOP operatives also mentioned former Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s wife, Mary, as a possible wildcard candidate. She is a former state court judge.
(Excerpt) Read more at atr.rollcall.com ...
This district leans Republican, but not securely so. I like Kurt Bills, but am open to any of the other possible contenders at this point.
I think it’s going to be a Republican Tsunami in 2016.
I truly, sincerely hope so. I don’t know how anyone can continue to support Obama and Democrats after what’s happened to this country since 2009.
I have a big problem with Patr Garofalo.
He voted for taxpayer funding of the Twins and Vikings stadiums AND he was one of a handful of Republicans who supported gay marriage.
Ted Daley would be OK as would Dave Thompson.
Kurt Bills was a Paultard.
Jeepers, I’m not even sure that Rod Hamilton lives in the district. I thought he was way down in southwest Minnesota. Besides, he supported taxpayer funding of stadiums for the Twins and Vikings.
I did not know that Pat Garofalo was such a RINO. Obviously, he’s not the right choice.
Good. Kline is NOT a conservative.
He voted for the stimulus bill that started us on the way down the toilet.
Kurt Bills? That paultard suffered a historic beatdown when he ran for the Senate. It was one of the worst performances by a MN GOP Senate nominee.
I think he should run, off a cliff.
It would be nice if we were told what office this individual held.
Kline turned out to be a disappointment. Anyhow, I’m out of Minnesota.
He’s in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“That paultard suffered a historic beatdown when he ran for the Senate. It was one of the worst performances by a MN GOP Senate nominee.”
We had several people running for the GOP endorsement. I was backing someone else. The Paultards had gained control of the state convention thru the caucus system and they wanted to show everyone who was in charge - so they picked a one-term state rep who just happened to be a public supporter of Ron Paul.
Amy Klobuchar is about mile wide but an inch thick - but in terms of Minnesota politics, that’s often good enough for the addled voters of this state. She wasn’t gonna be defeated.
I do have to give Bills some kudos though. He tried very hard. He was at every parade and event. He was actually a likable and intelligent guy. But there was no money and the GOP party was split apart over the Paultard invasion.
Thanks, I figured that out from the comments.
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