Analyzing the Senate Candidates

Since I said some negative things about Al Franken and it got on MDE, I figured I should share my opinions on all the candidates, both good and bad opinions because I think plenty of great things about Al Franken as a candidate and I don't want to just be sitting here blogging only negatives about some candidates and only great things about some candidates. No candidate is really ever our "dream candidate" and I hate how people never discuss the negatives about candidates on their own side. If you don't discuss the negatives, how will we ever overcome them?


Bob Olson (http://www.bobolson.org/)

I have heard him speak once before. It was an absolute snooze-fest. He has good intentions with his run. I am in love with his campaign signs having the windmill on them, switching to renewable forms of energy is extremely important to me and many progressive Minnesotans but is he the best one to sell this in the Senate when he couldn't even sell this to me in an impromptu 5 minute speech at the MYDFL state convention back in April or May. He only plans to raise and spend $20,000 for the endorsement, something that severely limits his ability to get the endorsement. Plus, I don't see how he will raise this $20,000 considering his website doesn't even have a contribute button.

Mike Ciresi (http://www.ciresiforsenate.com/)

First thing, I wish his head wasn't cut off by the top of his website. It's nit-picky but I like candidates with a nice, full head. His colors and logo that he is using in his campaign I think are great, they really set him apart. His website is also well put together. It's great to show his endorsements right on the front page, he is really milking that Betty endorsement (who I don't like that much anyway, she isn't in the House Progressive Caucus and that kills me, SHE REPRENTS ST. PAUL!!! I mean come on!) However, it appears his website is solely about the endorsements, which happened over a month ago. If something exciting hasn't happened in your campaign for over a month that is newsworthy, that is not good.

His website lacks any place where it talks about events he will be having so if I wanted to go and meet him and see what he is about, I'd have no idea where to go! Also, he doesnt have a page discussing the issues. Those two things are such huge problems that it really hurts his candidacy in my eyes.

He is kind of wishy-washy on if he will abide by the endorsement and that irks me. Decide if you will or you won't. But even if he decides to not abide by the endorsement and lets say Al gets it, I have no doubt that Al would pummel him in a primary, Al has the name recognition and will be able to raise the money, although Ciresi has his own fortune to fall back on to self-fund, something I personally frown upon.

I think he definitely has the record of helping Minnesota, he will be able to raise the money, he is a legitimate candidate and I definitely think he can do it. He can beat Norm Coleman, he just needs to fine tune the easy to fix problems.

Al Franken (http://www.alfranken.com/)

He is by far running the best campaign. By far, no doubt about it. It is meticulous, every detail is thought through, just flawless. You go to the website and it is always different, it is always being updated, telling you where you can meet Al. I think he is working the hardest to get the endorsement and it certainly shows. He is doing three parades on the 4th of July, count em, three. He always has a full list of events, which makes him the most accessible candidate. Minnesotans deserve to meet their candidates and Al makes it the easiest to do. I really admire his drive and committment to getting that endorsement.

I also think Al will do the best job at energizing the Democratic base. My friend, bless her heart, knows nothing about politics. She goes online, goes to the candidates website and makes sure that they are a Democrat she can support. She asks me lots of questions and I am just happy she at least tries. However, she heard Al Franken is running, she was all over it. She was so excited and I think that speaks volumes to Al’s ability to rev up the voters who don’t care that much. If he is our candidate, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Minnesota’s voter turnout be legendary, he will draw out the people who have never voted before.

However, on the other side, he may draw out more voters because they don’t like him. A March 13th Rasmussen Poll (http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_2008/election_2008_senate_races__1/mn_senate_poll_coleman_46_franken_36) put Franken’s unfavorable ratings at 46%, that is just plain scary.

I also don’t like the fact that he just moved back to MN. I firmly believe he moved back only to run for the Senate seat. I am sure he has always had a bit of Minnesota in his heart and it tore at him to see Norm Coleman deface Wellstone’s seat but I want a candidate who has been working for Minnesota for longer than three years. I feel like his appeal in Minnesota is due to what he has done nationally, and not locally.

The many quotes he has had, I am sure it will turn off a number of independents, it will turn on the Democrats, it would turn off the cross-over Republicans who have Republican fatigue, which is what helped in 2006 immensely.

The question is will the zeal that his campaign has shown in working towards getting Al the nomination be enough to get the nomination.

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer (http://mostimportantdecade.com/)

Jack’s website also has the events page, something that is so important. It baffles me Ciresi and Olson don’t have these. He is also very available and I love that he does conference calls. Monday potlucks at his office, very down-to-earth Minnesotan.

I also think his work as a college professor helps him immensely. He was able to teach what he believes. He teaches in the Justice and Peace Studies department at the University of St. Thomas and through these classes, he is able to teach students the issues of injustice, and inequality in the world. He has also worked tirelessly with the peace movement in Minneapolis, something that gives him credibility in being a true voice to end the war.

He has written 13 books and novels, he knows the issues. His issues page gives the most detail, the most information, and he gives you a list of what he thinks we need to do. If you want to know what he will do as a U.S. Senator, all you have to do is look at his list of things he wants to see accomplished, that is something more politicians need to do Most give such vague, general ideas, such as let’s get universal healthcare, well how? Jack tells you how.

I like how you are only allowed to contribute $250 max to his campaign. It’s very Wellstone-esque and while he will won’t be able to raise nearly as much Franken, I think the point is that Jack will get many, many more contributions, which will show his support through numbers, not money. Now if he manages to get the number support rather than the money, he can win the nomination and the general, and if he can’t, he doesn’t stand a chance and will become a distant third in the nomination process. It’s a gamble but a necessary one.

His only drawback I think is that he is probably too liberal but again, Wellstone showed us that being uber-liberal can be winnable anyway. But I don’t know, Al Franken shows some moderation in his views while Jack lays them out there, regardless of the liability. Again, it’s a gamble but it’s necessary, especially in this election season which will again be about radical change.

His greatest challenge will be getting the name recognition. If he gets the nomination, name recognition won’t be too huge a problem, all challengers start out with little name recognition, but getting the DFL nomination will be tough with little name recognition, especially against name-recognition-heavyweights Ciresi and Franken.