Posted on 02/12/2007 5:52:25 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
Attorney Mike Ciresi, who put nearly $5 million of his own money into his 2000 U.S. Senate race, said Monday he wasn't planning to self-fund again in his 2008 bid.
"No, we'll raise the money," Ciresi said in a telephone interview. "I think it's a better way to go."
Ciresi, who revealed Sunday he was forming an exploratory committee as a DFL Senate candidate, said that he plans to formally announce his candidacy this spring. Comedian Al Franken is expected to announce his plans to run as a Democrat this week. Both men have their sights set on incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman, a Republican.
Ciresi, who lost the 2000 Democratic Senate nomination to Mark Dayton, said that he put his own money into that race because it was the first time he had run, and because Dayton went up early with ads.
"We had to step up and say here's where we're at," said Ciresi.
Although Ciresi did not rule out putting some of his money into the 2008 race, he said, "The intention is we're going to raise the money, and I believe we have the ability to do that."
He said he did not share Dayton's aversion to raising money.
"It's a real opportunity to sit and discuss the issues with people that you're asking for their support," Ciresi said.
Ciresi, 60, is a noted trial attorney who was the lead attorney in Minnesota's 1998 case against the tobacco industry that yielded a settlement of more than $6 billion.
He won a $25 million settlement for the families of U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone and other passengers from the company whose plane crashed while carrying Wellstone, his wife, daughter and staff members in October 2002.
Ciresi said some of the issues he planned to focus on include health care, foreign policy, Social Security, Medicare and the environment.
"We have to re-energize the middle class of this country," he said. "The poor in this country don't have a chance to move up the economic ladder."
Ciresi said he supports withdrawal of troops from Iraq combined with an aggressive diplomatic outreach.
"I think there's an opportunity for America to lead again -- not just with military might, but with the force of our ideas," he said. "So I really believe that we should have multilateral and bilateral discussions in the Middle East, with all of the countries that have vital stakes in that area, which includes most of the world. So contrary to the Republican side, I do believe that we can have multilateral and bilateral talks with Syria and Iran."
Ciresi said he didn't know Franken personally.
"I only know what I've seen on TV," he said. "He's an informed, intelligent guy, so I'm sure we'll have a very engaging debate.
Asked if he was a fan of Franken's from "Saturday Night Live," Ciresi laughed and said, "I go back a long time with 'Saturday Night Live.' Yes, absolutely."
Mike has more money than he knows what to do with.
Franken might not even make it through the primary, let alone an election against Norm Coleman.
I don't see Franken as having much appeal, but then I'm not from Minnesota and I don't understand Wellstone or Klobuchar either.
Ciresi runs every six years. He's a joke. But he can outspend Franken with his pocket change. Franken actually stands a better chance against Coleman, just because of his name recognition.
If this was any other state besides Minnesota I would say Franken has no chance, but after Jesse Ventura's upset win, who knows?
I went to school with Ciresi's kid. He is a total nut job (the father, not the son), with quite the temper.
If Ciresi has a good staff he will win the primary and have a good shot a beating Coleman. Franken has voids and problems that will need to be outed and refuted.
If Ciresi just wants a walk and a talk to get him the nomination, he best quit now.
He would win big in Mary-land! These morons would elect any one!
Ceresi = Angry nutjob demorat
Klobuchar= One term flash-in-the-pan airhead
Franken = Unelectable left of left (and NOT a comedian)
Wellstone = dead
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.