MyDD :: MN Senate: Klobuchar (D) outraises Kennedy (R)

MN Senate: Klobuchar (D) outraises Kennedy (R)

by lhuynh, Tue Apr 05, 2005 at 03:18:33 PM EST

Amy Klobuchar, Hennepin County Attorney, raised $580,000 in the last quarter.

From the press release:

"Klobuchar's campaign raised more money than announced Republican candidate Mark Kennedy raised for the same reporting period, according to published reports."

Wow! This race is gonna be one of the key races in 2006, and it looks like there is at least one Democrat emerging as a viable opponent to Kennedy.

Read more about Amy at http://www.amyklobuchar.com . Full press release below.

Klobuchar Raises $580,000 for 2006 U.S. Senate Bid

Klobuchar's strong first quarter donations match her grassroots support

Amy Klobuchar, who has yet to formally announce her candidacy for U.S. Senate, has raised $580,000 in the month and a half since Sen. Mark Dayton announced he would not seek re-election, her campaign committee reported today.

"I'm very pleased and humbled by both the financial and volunteer support that our campaign has received over the past few weeks," Amy Klobuchar said. "This support will allow me to stand up for the people of Minnesota and champion ideas that will make a difference in their lives."

A substantial number of Klobuchar's contributions were received through her website, amyklobuchar.com, and many of them were raised personally by Klobuchar who called people from her kitchen table.

"The amount of money Amy Klobuchar has raised so early, and in so little time, is stunning," said Ted Mondale, a former state legislator and veteran of many campaigns.

"It shows Amy's support for United States Senate is broad and deep."

Klobuchar's campaign raised more money than announced Republican candidate Mark Kennedy raised for the same reporting period, according to published reports.

"This outpouring of support simply underscores our certainty that Minnesotans are looking for a U.S. senator who can best represent them in Washington and who will stand for what's right," said Aaron Peterson, state representative from rural Minnesota and member of Klobuchar's campaign committee. "Amy Klobuchar's performance over the last few weeks has been extremely strong. And more Minnesotans will be hearing in the next few weeks how Amy Klobuchar will be the right person to serve them in the U.S. Senate in 2006."

Klobuchar's many supporters include 51 state legislators from across the State of Minnesota. Klobuchar's donations have come from Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Her detailed report will be filed April 15 as required by federal law.

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What about... (none / 0)

Patty Wetterling (D)?

by raginillinoian on Tue Apr 05, 2005 at 06:32:24 PM EST

Re: What about... (none / 0)

According to her website, she is forming an exploratory committe and is so far undecided on a run.

John McCain wants to stay in Iraq for a century.

by jkfp2004 on Tue Apr 05, 2005 at 08:20:03 PM EST
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Re: What about... (none / 0)

What about Kennedy's House seat? Can we win it this time?

by rafadex on Tue Apr 05, 2005 at 08:41:36 PM EST
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Re: What about... (none / 0)

Wetterling would have a chance at winning the House seat. it's a suburban, Republican-leaning district, so we're at a disadvantage.

by johnny longtorso on Tue Apr 05, 2005 at 09:13:43 PM EST
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Re: What about... (none / 0)

It is my understanding that Patty would have a very good chance to win Kennedy's old seat.

by lhuynh on Wed Apr 06, 2005 at 02:05:05 AM EST
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Re: What about... (none / 0)

the problem is, she's probably the only candidate that could win it. and if she runs for Senate...

by johnny longtorso on Wed Apr 06, 2005 at 09:37:40 PM EST
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Re: What about... (none / 0)

Oh, and Patty has over 4,200 donors. THAT's grassroots. How many donors does Amy have?

Look, I like Amy Klobuchar just fine, but saying she's a grassroots candidate ignores the realities of her connections to Minneapolis money (which is fine; I'd love to have connections to Minneapolis money).

Let's all slow down on the anointing of Klobuchar because of one good filing period. She was on the phones raising money the day Mark Dayton announced (I know, she called my dad asking him to max out), and Patty's only been fundraising for 3 weeks. So with that in mind, 580,000 over 8 weeks compared to 330,000 over 3 weeks doesn't look so commanding of a lead.

Let me offer an alternative candidate for the 6th: Elwyn Tinklenberg.
-Former Democratic mayor of Blaine (strong base in the Northern suburbs, which are vital to winning the district)
-Former Transportation Commissioner under Jesse Ventura (which would help, since there's a big independent streak in the 6th).

How about former US Rep. Bill Luther? He's got a place in Stillwater.

by stearnscounty on Wed Apr 06, 2005 at 11:07:13 PM EST
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Re: What about... (none / 0)

Let's put the 6th District nonsense to bed.
People don't seem to have all the facts. I hear a lot of people saying, "Patty should run for the 6th! She did really well there!" True, Patty got 46% in the 5 counties where Wellstone got 36% and Moe got 35%. A great job, and not something to underestimate. But did any of you actually read the mark mellman poll that is out there? She has 48% negatives in the 6th, with 46% positives. That's not 48% "don't know," or "undecided," that's 48% negative. If you looked at a poll that showed 48% of voters had already lined up against you, what would you want to do? Yet everyone in the state saw those negative Kennedy ads, and she still has 2:1 favorables over unfavorables statewide. To me, 46% in the 6th is a great base to draw from, but for a pro-choice candidate, she has squeezed every last drop of support out of the district.

She's been to every little town and school across the state, and I know that a lot of pro-life Republican women crossed over and voted for Patty last time. The leading candidates for the Republican nomination in the sixth are Cheri Pierson Yecke and Michele Bachmann. Do you really think she has a better chance against a credible (though certainly extreme) female candidate? I don't buy it. Sure, Kennedy was an incumbent, but he was a much weaker than average incumbent. The man can barely speak in complete sentences.

"Yeah, but Patty didn't know enough about issues in the congressional race." Get real here, it was a 6-month race that she was essentially thrust into unprepared. We're far enough out that it's not an issue. I would be willing to bet dollars to doughnuts that she's reading as much as she can right now, preparing herself. Don't worry.

Come on, people, based on geography ALONE, patty makes more sense. Hennepin County will go for the DFLer whether it is Patty or its own county attorney. Patty will certainly outperform Amy in areas outside the metro, and shouldn't our focus be on putting the candidate forward for the Senate seat with the best chance to win? People (mainly from the Cities) talk about Amy for Senate and Patty for the Sixth, but why not Patty for the Senate and Amy for AG? Hatch has all but announced for Governor, so I'd prefer to see Amy take on his job and take on Norm in 2008. This should be about who's the right person to beat Mark Kennedy. And that person is, without a shred of doubt in my mind, Patty Wetterling.

I'm from the 6th district, and I would love to be represented by a Democrat. But I'm also a realist, so please believe me when I tell you that SHE SHOULDN'T RUN HERE. Hell, our own CD Chair, Greg Hansen, is pushing Patty to run for the Senate. A Democrat can win the 6th, but to be honest, a man (particularly a pro-life man) would have a better shot. Sad to say, but true.

Run for the Senate, Patty! There's more to this state than Minneapolis money!

by stearnscounty on Wed Apr 06, 2005 at 10:56:02 PM EST
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Re: What about... (none / 0)

Patty has raised $330,000 for a Senate run.

by punishinglemur on Tue Apr 05, 2005 at 11:45:30 PM EST
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