GOP 2010 Guv Battle – Watchdog Not So Fond Of Sullivan – Juicy Update!!!! – Update #2
The following is from the Anoka County Watchdog’s email update this morning
GOVERNOR RACE UPDATE: BRIAN SULLIVAN
Multiple Watchdog sources are hearing the same thing others are reporting with respect to Brian Sullivan joining the already crowded GOP gubernatorial field. The conventional wisdom is that the current field lacks a “star power” candidate.
Assuming for a moment that the claim of a lack of star power in the current field is true, is Brian Sullivan himself the rock star candidate some activists seek? The Watchdog says no.
Sure, Sullivan is rich and thus able to self-finance. It’s also true that he almost captured the GOP endorsement in 2002 after an epic battle with Tim Pawlenty.
But what about the downside?
First, Brian Sullivan is hardly a household name, even among Republicans. He may be well known to few GOP insiders, but he would need to spend a great deal of time and money introducing himself to voters in the same manner current GOP hopefuls would. Sullivan certainly has done little in the past 7 years to keep any kind of a public profile.
Second, Sullivan hasn’t shown that he has overcome the personal faults that plagued him in 2002. He appears stiff and awkward while speaking in front of large groups. In small groups, he comes off as an egotistical, elitist snob. Multiple GOP activists have recounted tales of being snubbed by Sullivan or turned off by his demeanor.
One GOP delegate recounts a private dinner early in the 2002 campaign where Sullivan described his love of windsurfing and squash. The delegate immediately pulled out a dictionary when he got home to see what squash was.
A former GOP legislator recounts asking Sullivan for a meeting for the express purpose of receiving a campaign contribution from him, to which Sullivan agreed. After the legislator drove a long distance to meet near Sullivan’s office, Sullivan kept him waiting for over an hour. After the meeting, Sullivan walked off without making a contribution and later ignored follow-up contribution requests.
A well-known GOP delegate and major fund raiser who supported Sullivan in 2002 would not support him in 2010 after Sullivan on two occasions insulted the delegate by turning and walking off while the two were engaged in a conversation.
In sum, the Watchdog fails to see any real substance behind a potential Sullivan candidacy. He’s no better known than the current candidates and he has burned many bridges with delegates. Moreover, he has done nothing to raise his public profile and prove he is any better on the stump than in 2002.
Juicy Update:
I didn’t catch it at first, but a dedicated reader of RF pointed out that Harrold Hamilton who runs the Watchdog, is also a member of Marty Seifert’s campaign leadership team.
So, does Seifert think Sullivan is, and I quote, “egotistical, elitist snob”?
Stay tuned…..
Update:
Still no word from Seifert or Hamilton as for the name calling, but PiPress is reporting that Sullivan has said thanks but no thanks regardless of the smears.
Republican National Committeeman Brian Sullivan won’t change his mind and jump into the governor’s race after all.
Sullivan, the wealthy businessman who narrowly lost the GOP gubernatorial endorsement to Tim Pawlenty in 2002, was widely rumored to be reconsidering his decision not to run, but today he issued the following statement:
Check it out over on Political Animal
