Here’s the results from the MN SOS. (with 93.4% reporting)
That’s almost 48,000 votes. In 2008 the total was 62,828. So turnout was down slightly, but not bad considering there is a coronation by Democrats and far FAR less media coverage of what is really at stake.
Rick Santorum proved that by focusing on organization and mobilization, you can win the non-binding Minnesota Republican Precinct Caucus straw poll. Mitt Romney & Newt Gingrich also proved the importance of it. Their decision to mail it in here may have saved resources for more important states, they didn’t win any friends here. Ron Paul, well, his organizing took a step back from 2008, but he held his own and I think he hit the high water mark in a 4 man race.
As I have said repeatedly, the great candidates I’d be happy to endorse and support are no longer in this race. We’re stuck with 4 flawed candidates. Here’s some random thoughts on each.
Romney: The narrative from the Santorum people (AND THE CANDIDATE HIMSELF) last night is that he is just as bad as Obama and/or a Mormon so we can’t have him as our candidate. Of course this is the view through rose colored glasses. this works with people who are not fully aware of the full records of each candidate and with those who can easily be swayed by their faith. For some reason bigotry is alive and well with some. It really bothers me. We are supposed to be better than this and it really makes me hard to look forward to “unity” when bigotry is used to win. Despite my dislike of his tenure as Massachusetts Governor, I believe he still has the best skills to get elected and become the President that undos the bureaucratic mess created in Washington over the last 25 years. (Who helped create that mess as members of Congress? Oh yeah, the other 3 candidates.) Our economy is in big trouble and I think Romney has the best chance at knowing what it needs. Platitudes and stump speeches are nice, but practical experience get’s far more accomplished.
Gingrich: A lot of the people participating weren’t alive or politically aware of what Speaker Gingrich was doing 20 years ago and the guy they see is a mudslinger. His strength in gravitas and debate performance gives some of us the impression of arrogance and stubbornness to admit that maybe, just maybe, he didn’t invent sliced bread and the wheel. He’s tied for 3rd on my list.
Paul: Love most of his fiscal and domestic policy, not all, but I can live with him on that, but his foreign policy is, well, unrealistic. It plays well with some, but the reality is the world is filled with evil people will to do evil things. I agree we can’t afford to continue to police the world, but we can’t hold out hope that diplomatic relations will keep Americans safe from terror attacks. That while on our soil we are going to prohibit intelligence and measures to prevent attacks. Its a complicated mess, but I don’t think we’re going to solve this debate before November. He’s stuck at number 2 for me.
Santorum: I’m sorry, I still fear going out door knocking or making a phone call to an undecided voter in October and having the person ask if I think my wife should be barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen or worse if a local candidate is painted with hat brush in the same way that in 2008, once McCain joined Operation TARP and Bailout, Republican State Legislative candidates got calls to come take down their lawn signs. While I don’t hold it against anyone for having strong faith, I do wonder how a social conservatism has somehow taken a role in the Tea Party. Taxed Enough Already. Not to say social issues don’t matter to me, but fiscal ones are my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Santorum’s record in the Senate would surprise many if they bothered to look. He seems to have played a role in creating this mess too, but he’s given a pass because he is a man of deep faith. Well, Bush was a man of deep faith too. Just saying. Oh and he got the coveted Ron Carey endorsement.
So where do we go from here? Me, as a Minnesota Republican will be refocusing on the home front. The fact is Minnesota will not go to a Republican Presidential candidate in November, and when you’re going up against the billion dollar President in Obama, every penny counts and needs to be spent wisely.
US Senate: Klobuchar is beatable if we can get the truth about her out there and have a good candidate who can raise the money needed to expose her duplicity while getting their own message out there. The draft Hegseth movement is going, but the US Senate race was sadly absent from most people’s minds last night. Severson, Hernandez, and Arwood are great guys, are right on the issues, but the 3 of them raised only $100,000 or som combined. Klobuchar has $4.5 million in the bank right now.
Congressional: We still don’t know what the maps will look like, but its safe to say that the 4 Republican incumbents will face a headwind at least. We need to push back on the media narrative that the problem in Washington is the Republican House. Sending all 4 Republicans back with huge wins and at the minimum putting a scare into Walz & Peterson is a must.
Legislature: Bored rich debutant Governor is going to spend millions and millions trying to defeat Republicans and take control of the House & Senate so that he can wage war on the Minnesota economy. He plans to raise taxes, impose more fringe regulations, and make it nearly impossible to operate a business here. He can’t be allowed to succeed.
Long rant short…. we need to not get caught off guard thinking the Presidential race is the only thing worth fighting for. We have 201 Legislative races to battle for, 8 Congressional races, and a US Senate race. Our time, energy, and effort would be far better spent on them, than on the POTUS race.
My hope is that the party isn’t ripped apart by Delegates fighting to get elected to the next convention (CD, than State, then National) while our state and congressional candidates are struggling for dollars and volunteers. The anti-Romney, pro-Paul, pro-Rick stuff isn’t going to help us hold the Majorities in the MN House & Senate nor get our Congressmen reelected.
Let’s put last night behind us and refocus on what really matters. Last night was a blip. The POTUS battle will continue, but let’s hope it happens out of sight and out of mind so that we can focus on what is the safeguard against radical executives in Dayton & Obama.
Please don’t put all your eggs in one basket folks. How would like to see Speaker Pelosi return?
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