Wetterling-Bachmann (Minn US House) race could set a record

Minneapolis StarTribune (aka The Red Star) ^ | 10/12/06 | Kevin Diaz - Staff Reporter

[MplsSteve]

Child-safety crusader Patty Wetterling has raised more than $2.1 million in her Democratic bid for the U.S. House, putting her and Republican opponent Michele Bachmann on a pace to break the record for the costliest House race in Minnesota.

Wetterling's campaign reports more than $822,000 in contributions over the 5½-week period ended Sept. 30. It ended just as a sex scandal involving young congressional pages focused national attention on Wetterling's closely contested Sixth District race with Bachmann, a state senator running as a champion of traditional family values.

[MplsSteve]

As a Minnesotan, I'm not surprised to see this. Dems regard Bachmann has a one-dimensional, far-right candidate while GOP'ers regard Wetterling as an indecisive lightweight.

If the GOP wants to maintain control of the US House, this race rates high on their list of priorities.

Comments or opinions - anyone?

[MplsSteve]

WELCOME TO FREE REPUBLIC'S MINNESOTA PING LIST!!!

Let me know if you want on or off this list!

[lesser_satan]

At the end of the previous reporting period, Aug. 23, Wetterling had raised $1,370,633, compared with $1,159,844 for Bachmann.

Guess I better get out the checkbook!

[floridavoter2]

I was a child living in MN when Wetterlings son, Jacob, was kidnapped, never to be found again. In a Star-Tribune article about 7 years ago she talked about a lady who wrote her saying she decided against having an abortion after learning of Wetterlings loss and actually named her son Jacob too. Wetterling spoke about how touched she was. But since then she has taken a pro-choice stance in her campaigns. Very sad, but typical of many "child advocates".

[patriot_wes]

Watching Wetterling's two latest ads reveal that she has no shame when it comes to winning. Nothing but the usual demo-lies. She's got Vogel already convicted and crucified and she lies about the opponent's National Sales Tax option by only telling part of the way that the tax works. She made a name for herself when her son was kidnapped and now she parleys people's sympathies into lies to buy votes.

Shameful!

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Yeah, I hate to draw a comparison between her and Cindy Sheehan, but........

[Zeroisanumber]

I haven't been following this race closely. I just assumed that the Dems would run a "St. Patti vs. That Anti-Gay Lady" campaign.

[dave k]

Since Wetterling lost her son, the libs will denounce anyone who criticizes her and her stand on the issues with their usual pompous indignation. I mean, how dare we criticize Wetterling for her stance on abortion - she lost a son!

Sound familiar? (How dare we criticize Cindy Sheehan - she lost a son!)

[patriot_wes]

"Yeah, I hate to draw a comparison between her and Cindy Sheehan, but"

good point BTLD

[YdontUleaveLibs]

I wish I could vote against Wetterling. Her ads are a disgrace and libelous. So I will be voting for Obi Sium, I have no idea how he is polling...

[dgallo51]

All I can say after viewing some of Wetterling's TV ads, is…IF she wins with that garbage on the Foley scandal and her blatant misinformation/obfuscation campaign against meaningful tax reform, i.e., the FAIR TAX, oh, that's right…we elected Mark Dayton…NEVER MIND.

[terilyn]

On the ping list please & thank you!

[MplsSteve]

Obi Sium is a great guy! I've met him him a couple of times. If anyone can tell you a story about living the American Dream, it's him. I sent him a check even though I don't live in the district.

He's intelligent and would make a good member of Congress.

Unfortunately, he lives in the 4th District and will be trounced by Betty "Rubble" McCollum in November.

[Fred Hayek]

In my district I'm voting for Kline. In the 2002 race the Dems made a big deal about the degree from Rice University - it was from Texas, the land of retards. Now Rowley has morphed Kline into a Nazi, and thinks that anyone who has served in the military should not participate in the political process.

BTW, I'm from Texas.

[Valin]

Wetterling is a lightweight. Her campaign is being run pretty much by the DCCC. Her only claim to fame is that her son was kidnapped. Left-Right politics aside I prefer someone with a bit more (cue the ominous music) gravitas.

[Valin]

Now Rowley has morphed Kline into a Nazi

For the dems., this is SOP.

BTW, I'm from Texas.

That's ok. these things happen even in the best of families. :-)

[NeoCaveman]

If the GOP wants to maintain control of the US House, this race rates high on their list of priorities.
Comments or opinions - anyone?

This is the House race, outside of my home state, that I am most interested in. Go Michelle beat Wetthebed

[NorthWoody]

I haven't followed this one real close, since I can't vote in it anyhow, but the impression I get is that Wetterling is a bit of an empty pant-suit.

She was recruited by the Dems because of her name recognition and the sympathy factor, and the liberal machine is making sure she has plenty of cash to play with.

[MplsSteve]

I know a fair amount of Democrats.

One of 'em is a political operative in his mid 20's.

He was asked to take a paid position on Rowley's campaign.

He turned it down because she was a flake. He said that while she's not impossible to work with, she's pretty close to it.

[Fred Hayek]

Got home a while ago from bicycling (went from Eagan to Greenwood and back), saw some political fliers on my door - Dems of course. One for Rowley. Has a photo of Rowley standing with the Murtha-(censored).