Following up on an internet rumor about State Senator Dick Day's filing paperwork with the Federal Election Committee to run for Congress in Minnesota's First in 2008, we contacted the FEC, then State Senator Day himself for confirmation.
The FEC did not have the committee paperwork online yet, and a spokeswoman in the information office told us that, other than for high-profile Presidential candidacies, the agency isn't releasing information about filing before they are online. She noted that the paperwork is generally online 48 hours after it is received.
In a brief telephone interview, a gracious and enthusiastic Senator Day confirmed that he is indeed challenging Representative Walz for the MN-01 seat. He had signed the necessary paperwork earlier in the week and "his people" had sent it off.
UPDATE: Tom Scheck posts much more information on Polinaut and a short article on MPR. Go over and take a look. The Associated Press picks up the story, published here in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Strib's Mark Brunswick reports here.
ANOTHER UPDATE: The Hill's Aaron Blake picks up on MPR's story.
FRIDAY'S UPDATE
KTTC reports, adding information about the focus for Day's race:
He says his campaign would be focused on health care, jobs, immigration and education.
Day says there's no doubt that he and Walz will have different opinions on many issues, but he didn't spell those differences out.
Does Senator Day plan to follow in Gil Gutknecht's footsteps and try to minimize discussions of the Iraq War?
Rumor has it that Day's take on immigration will be Tancredo-esque. We're curious how this approach will avoid splitting the GOP in the First, given that immigration reform groups give Senator Coleman low marks and he's been criticized in conservative media for co-sponsoring the North American Investment Act.
The Rothenberg Report has noted how difficult Minnesota's First will be for a GOP snapback and this divide over an emotional wedge issue should serve to make things even more difficult.
The Owatonna People's Press ( behind a subscription firewall--the editor wants permission to run any length of quote from the OPP, so we're revising here, paraphrasing anything from the paper, regardless of how long or short the quote maybe; contact the OPP for the text of articles) ran an article in today's edition. Day told the OPP that he is running because he sees ideological differences between himself on the right and Walz, whom he believes to be on the liberal side of the political spectrum
UPDATE: For those who are coming in from Lutefisk Liberal, who doesn't think Day would enlist with the "immigration reform" crowd, we believe it's best to do a little research before buying into the "nice guy to have a beer with" image of any politician. In an article published last year in the Owatonna People's Press (behind firewall, see note above), we learn that Day addressed a local "immigration reduction" group. In "Sen. Day visits with immigration reduction group," the OPP reported that Day was a guest speaker at a meeting of the Steele County Coalition for Immigration Reduction. Visit the link and find out about the group's beliefs.
Our point in raising the issue wasn't so much Day's position, but the strains it would put on First District Republicans, who'd be put in the position of working for a ticket with a mixed message on immigration.
We find many interesting articles in the archives of the People's Press. For instance, there's an article from December about Day stepping down as Senate Minority Leader. In November, he said he'd be staying in his district more in Sen. Day opts out of leadership position (article bhind firewall; see note above). Day decided not to seek the position of Senate minority leader again, although he beleived his fellow Republican would pick him again if he ran. He had enjoyed the hectic pace, long travel and endless days of the 2006 state senate campaigns, but had decided to concentrate his efforts in his district in 2007.
Or maybe not.
According to MPR, Senator Day was born in 1937, which would make him either 70 or 71 at the time of the election in November 2008. Would age make a difference? Jim Oberstar was born in 1934 and Collin Peterson in 1944; both represent large districts, so we say probably not.
Day's definitely an experienced challenger, and an incumbent congressperson is generally most endangered in his or her first bid for reelection. Walz will surely be the better campaigner and should have more money and a little more name recognition, but he's certainly not getting a free pass. We'll all have our work cut out for us in the coming cycle.
Posted by: Max Fletcher | February 08, 2007 at 11:47 PM