We couldn't find the Pioneer Press article, "Veteran pol, newcomer compete to take on Walz" on the newspaper's website, but it's in the Lexis-Nexis database. We'll be citing that source here. Update: it's live at the PiPress now [end update].
Veteran reporter Dennis Lien notes the GOP primary contenders' positions on issues:
Both have made energy a top campaign issue. To address higher prices, both want to expand drilling opportunities and build more nuclear power plants. Both oppose abortion and want to tackle illegal immigration, including building secure border fences. Both oppose earmarks, spending measures members of Congress steer to their home districts.
Both supported the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, Davis favors referendums there on whether the United States should stay or leave. Day would stay the course until military
commanders say otherwise.
But our favorite passage is this spirited response to Ron Carey's persuasive powers:
Ron Carey, chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota, said he's confident the party's backing will push Davis to victory in the primary. He said he wants to persuade Day not to file for the race.
"While Senator Day has the right to run, he is getting virtually no traction whatsoever,'' Carey said. "I'm still hopeful Senator Day sees this is an impossible task and decides not to file next month.''
Told about Carey's statement, Day said, "I'm filing, and I doubt I'm going to be talking to him anymore.''
In the past, Davis has claimed there's no primary until filing time; now we know who slipped that brilliant talking point into his mouth.
John McCain's BFF Tim Penny speaks up for Day:
Former 1st District Rep. Tim Penny is a friend of Day's and said he must work around the "high hurdle'' of party endorsement to be successful. But, he said, Day has a story to tell and can do it.
"He needs to be smart about the types of activities he engages in and the types of issues he stresses in order to create news, in order to create interest and in order to create a contrast,'' Penny said. "But he's been in the political business long enough that he knows how to do that.''
Day is working hard (and we've noticed that he gets a lot of news coverage, and not just in today's Pioneer Press article). He explains:
He said he's entered in at least 47 parades and tries to visit every business he can when he campaigns in a town.
"I know people are there,'' Day said.
Lien notes the challenge facing either winner:
The candidate who wins will face a tough contest against Walz, who surprised many observers two years ago when he upset incumbent Gil Gutknecht. Walz has solidified his position during his first term and has proved to be an adept fundraiser, amassing more than $1 million in cash.
Davis and Day, on the other hand, are well short of that. Davis said he hopes to raise $250,000 in the second quarter. Day said many donors are waiting until after the primary to commit.
Since Davis is bandying that figure about in public, we're thinking he's either raised the money or is a complete ninny, although neither possibility excludes the other.
All the more reason to contribute what you can to Tim Walz and help him maintain a healthy lead, and if you have some spare change after that, to give some coin to those handsome fellows on the Red2Blue MN Act Blue page.
Photo: Above: Senator Day's campaign Explorer; below, Senator Day. We looked for a YouTube of the perfect song to accompany this, an old Jerry Jeff Walker tune, that we could dedicate to the two GOP candidates, but couldn't find it.
"...virtually no traction whatsoever..."
Thus spake Careythustra. Try diagramming that sentence!
Posted by: barbara | June 30, 2008 at 10:00 AM