‘This is now a two person race’
March 10th, 2008 – 6:17 PM by Dennis J. McGrathOn Friday, Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer’s campaign sent out a three-exclamation-point press release headlined: “Thanks to you, this is now a two person race!!!”
The release claimed that Nelson-Pallmeyer had “surpassed Mike Ciresi in delegate support.” It cited a local DFL convention Duluth, and gave the delegate-selection results as Nelson-Pallmeyer 10, Al Franken 10 and Ciresi 2.
The DFL doesn’t track delegates at this stage of the U.S. Senate race — between the precinct caucuses and the state endorsing convention in June — so there’s no way to measure delegates statewide. But anecdotal reports were confirming the essence of Nelson-Pallmeyer’s point: Ciresi was struggling.
This afternoon, Ciresi abandoned the race, issuing a press release that barely addressed why he made the decision. This passage was the only comment on that point: “In my judgment, continuing the endorsement race would only lead to an unnecessary floor fight. It is time to step aside.”
Now, it really is a two-person race. (There are a couple other candidates who aren’t a factor).
Franken clearly is — and always has been — the frontrunner. He has raised $5.2 million for his campaign, compared with $284,000 for Nelson-Pallmeyer. Franken has already run television commercials, and he enjoys high name recognition by virtue of his celebrity status. However, he also has a high unfavorable rating.
Nelson-Pallmeyer was a late entrant, only announcing his candidacy in October. He has run an energetic campaign, has impressed debate audiences and can point to a passionate group of supporters.
Usually, when it comes to describing a candidate’s supporters, “passionate” is code for “small.”
Is that the case with Nelson-Pallmeyer?
Compared to Franken, Nelson-Pallmeyer certainly lacks the nationwide network of financial contributors. Closer to home, Nelson-Pallmeyer is coming up short in key union endorsements, compared with Franken, who has the backing of labor groups ranging from teachers to public employees to steelworkers to teamsters.
We’ve seen in the past, though, that Minnesota’s process of selecting convention delegates through the precinct caucus system opens the door wide open to the right grassroots candidate.
Is Nelson-Pallmeyer that candidate?
3 Responses to "‘This is now a two person race’"
Dennis,
How key are “union” endorsements these days?
Do you know how many employees belong to unions now as opposed to say the 1950’s?
You should reseach this.
I know the unions are doing a hell of a job in the aerospace industry as well as automotive.
Actually three, but who counts Republicans at the star and sickle.
MPR reports today that Al Franken “does not have time” for any more debates with Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. Could it be that the only time he met Jack in a one-on-one debate he was soundly defeated? On the January 27th debate of this year, Franken hesitated, rambled, and could not demonstrate a sound grasp of, and interconnectedness of the issues. Franken did have a few humorous quips that drew applause and laughter from the crowd. But where is the substance? Franken has not done well in any of the debates I’ve seen. If Franken wants to defeat Coleman, yet shies away from any more debates with his remaining opponent for the DFL endorsement, that speaks volumes about his qualifications to be our next US Senator. Jack has challenged Al to several more debates to help delegates and voters decide for themselves. Come back from Los Angeles Al, you have enough money to win the endorsement. Show us now that you have what it really takes to be a Senator.