Minnesota's ABC affiliate KSTP has just reported that Norm Coleman has been saying privately to friends that he is not expecting to make a run for the Governor's seat in 2010.
From MinnPost
Channel 5 reports that three sources say Coleman "has been busy working on a long-term issue-oriented 'action group' that might eventually involve some lobbying in Washington."
If true, that will make a big difference in the race to replace Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has said he won't run for re-election, U of M political science professor Larry Jacobs told the station.
This could, actually, be quite a break for the Minnesota DFL. The DFL hasn't fielded much in really good candidates for governor lately so the biggest name Republican in the field saying he may not run is a very good thing. His latest stunt in the Great Senate Holdup of 2009 may have hurt him in a campaign that would have to ramp up sooner rather than later for a 2010 run, but his name alone is much bigger than anything the MN DFL has to offer.
The MinnPost article offers Minnesota state legislators Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer as possible GOP front runners for the race as of now. Neither has much name recognition outside of their districts. I have very little personal knowledge of either, but can say that I have grown to loathe Seifert for the few Op-eds I've read of his in the Star Tribune. Emmer either hasn't written as many or never pissed me off enough to notice and remember his name.
Hopefully the DFL will be able to find somebody that can push past a weakened GOP field so that we can finally take back the Governor's mansion. We have waited long enough.