A lot of you seemed to like
Part 1 of the profiles that I did on possible candidates to replace Mark Dayton in the US Senate. Here's the second batch which includes Betty McCollum, Alan Page, Judi Dutcher, Steve Kelley, and Rebecca Yanisch..
Betty McCollum US House Representative-4th District, St. Paul
McCollum represents a House district that is largely composed of St. Paul and its immediate suburbs. It's the second safest Democratic seat in Minnesota, and it even gives the 5th a run for its money on that account.
McCollum is a major player on Nancy Pelosi's leadership team in the House, occupying three key positions within the House Democratic Caucus. She's a regional whip, and a member of the senior whip team, as well as a member of the Democratic Steering Committee.
Her position in the House suggests a desire to be a House lifer instead of preparing for a Senate campaign. For that reason I think she will not run.
If she did, she'd have to overcome the label of being a 'Twin Cities Liberal', plus she'd have to build up support outstate. She'd probably be a decent fundraiser, and being a woman has its advantages. Still, the 4th CD is not the greatest position from which to position yourself for a statewide run.
MPR Profile for Betty McCollum: http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2004/campaign/congress/mccollum/
Alan Page State Supreme Court Justice, Minneapolis
If there is a 'clear the field' candidate in this race, it would be Alan Page, who is a dream candidate for us.
Page is a former Minnesota Viking who was part of the famous "Purple People Eater" defense of the 1960s and is held in high esteem by Minnesotans for his efforts.
As a member of the State Supreme Court, he has been outspoken in his views. He is perhaps the most progressive member of the State Supreme Court. I haven't heard him speak, but this commencement address is fantastic.
Like Obama, Page would be an African-American candidate for whom his race is not a disadvantage, but is instead a rocket engine that could easily propel him into the US Senate.
The one problem is that in the past, he has been reluctant to jump into a Senate race. The question is only of whether he'll enter the race....not whether he'll win it.
Judi Dutcher Former State Auditor, 2002 Candidate for Governor, Eden Prarie
In 1998, when she ran for re-election as State Auditor, Judi Dutcher got more votes than anyone else on the ballot did. If she'd have been the DFL's candidate in 2002 (instead of Roger Moe), she'd be running for re-election, I'm sure.
She's the daughter of the University of Minnesota's basketball coach. She began her career as a Republican. She worked as a city attorney in Minneapolis as well as a city prosecutor in suburban Eden Prarie. By the age of 32, she had already shot into statewide office, and was easily re-elected in 1998. In 2000, at what was donsidered by many to be the height of Republican power, she switched parties and became a Democrat because of her pro-choice views and her fears that the party was moving too far towards the right.
She's a big proponent of more money for education as well as affordable healthcare, fair trade, and equal rights.
Her statewide name recognition would be a big plus, as well as her telegenic appearance. Her prosecutorial experience could also serve her well in the debates. Her work in the suburbs will probably help her to avoid the 'Twin Cities liberal' label.
However, I have to wonder about her national security/knowledge of defense issues. Plus, can she get through the DFL convention process, as a former Republican?
MPR Candidate Profile: http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/campaign2002/governor/dutcher.shtml
MPR Article: http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200204/30_zdechlikm_dutcher/index.shtml
Steve Kelley State Senator, 2000 US Senate Candidate, Hopkins
Okay, I must confess, as we go further and further down the list, I get less and less knowledgable about the possible candidates. I still am living in South Carolina, although I'll probably make the jump up to Minnesota later this year (thank God). So I think of this as a sort of Minnesota political education.
Steve Kelley hails from the a western inner-ring Minneapolis suburban district and lives in Hopkins. Aside from Luther, and maybe Dutcher, he'd be the only candidate from the suburbs, which might be a plus.
In his 2000 campaign for the DFL nomination, Kelley emphasized a 'smaller government' approach, although he opposes Bush's SS privatization scheme. But, he's for more government spending in education, which he views as an investment in the future.
In 2004, Kelley was the principal architect of the DFL's plan to oust suburban Republican incumbents, which erased a large advantage for the Republicans and paired it down to only a one seat advantage. He might be motivated to stay in the State Senate and become majority leader if Dean Johnson were to run for either Governor or US Senate.
MPR Candidate Profile: http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/199910/20_kastem_kelley/
Rebecca Yanisch Former Minneapolis Commmunity Development Agency Official, 2000 Candidate for Senate, Minneapolis
Although she's from the Twin Cities, Yanisch grew up on an outstate Minnesota farm. She rain for the US Senate in 2000, and as the only female candidate in the race, she was viewed pretty positively.
As a candidate, she campaigned on expanding healthcare for children, lower prescription drug prices, and against gun violence.
She came under fire in 2000 for doing too little to stop the decline of affordable housing in the Twin Cities.
I thin her positions on gun issues are liability in the general among outstae voters and she brings little to the table that Klobuchar or Dutcher wouldn't.
MPR Candidate Profile:http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200008/07_khoom_yanisch/