[Asclepius]

"The memorial had impact on swing voters all across the country, " Erlandson said. "It motivated and galvanized people against Democrats from the top of the ticket on down. Prior to that, we were holding a straight flush, and we threw the cards back at them."

But Rick Kahn was grieving. He spoke from the heart. He only wanted to bring people together, because that's what he's all about, bringing people together. And how dare you tell us how to mourn ... oh, wait, your'e a Democrat. Damn.

[arielb]

this is big news because Minnesota was the only state to go for Mondale against Reagan

[Real Cynic No More]

The extremist right wingers should also learn something from this. The voting public does not like gloating, arrogance, in-your-face politics. Those who don't want to support any candidates who aren't conservative enough must realize that if those candidates do take extremist positions - liberal or conservative - then those candidates will not have a chance to get into office to implement such views. The voters won't elect them.

[OldFriend]

On the contrary, the gloating was all done by the democrats at the rally and all the world got to see it live on TV. Seemed they were thrilled that Wellstone's death had given them a new lease on the election.

Further, it seems to me that when Ventura won the governor's race, Coleman was second and the democrat was third. If it weren't for the celebrity of Ventura the state would have been governed by a Republican.

[mewzilla]

...politically tinged...

ROTFLMAO!!! Talk about an understatement.

[Dark Wing]

So the Republicans swept in a very high turn out election. Interesting as it has implicstions there for 2004.

[aristeides]

Even without the memorial, which the DFL "had nothing to do with," the ticket was crippled by losing its most popular candidate, Erlandson said.

So, tell us, Mr. Erlandson, if you and your state party had nothing to do with the planning of the ghoulfest, just who did?

[alwaysconservative]

Bump for later reading.

[Coop]

The closest contenders were the Georgia Republicans, who gained a governorship and a U.S. Senate seat,

Isn't it funny, looking back? Georgia was supposed to be the Dems' peach of the election, after their redistricting victories. LOL! And Maryland was another state that was supposed to be good for the Dems. Granted, they did go from 4-4 to a 6-2 Dem lead in the House, but that was completely overshadowed by a Pubbie winning the gov's mansion for the first time in 36 years.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"...an anti-DFL voter backlash to the politically tinged public memorial held in his honor four days later."

"Politically tinged"?

"Politically charged" is more like it.