Post-Durenberger endorsement fundraiser: "More Mayo than a club sandwich"

Yesterday in the First congressional district race, the top news story was former Senator Durenberger's endorsement of Representative Tim Walz.

The headlines tell some of the story. The Hill reported Former GOP Senator backs Rep. Walz:

Former Republican Sen. David Durenberger (R-Minn.) has endorsed Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) for reelection, the first time the former lawmaker has backed a Democrat. 

"I have my own set of experiences of bringing people together," Durenberger said while announcing his backing of Walz at an event Tuesday. "I had the experience of watching Tim try to do it in the district, and if Tim Walz were a Republican, I'd be endorsing him anyway, but he's a Democrat."

Durenberger is a strong supporter of the recently enacted healthcare law and noted Walz's support for it in his endorsement. The former senator broke with his party publicly several years ago, saying that while he no longer supports the GOP, he doesn't consider himself a Democrat either. 

And from the Post Bulletin's Former GOP Sen. Durenberger endorses Walz‎ :

A former Republican senator and longtime health policy expert is backing 1st District Rep. Tim Walz for Congress.

Former Sen. Dave Durenberger announced Monday that he is backing Walz because the Mankato Democrat is focused on uniting people. He said he got to see the congressman in action for the first time last summer during heated health care town hall forums. Walz had asked Durenberger to serve as a moderator at those events.

"I have my own set of experiences of bringing people together. I had the experience of watching Tim try to do it in the district, and if Tim Walz were a Republican, I'd be endorsing him anyway, but he's a Democrat," Durenberger said in front of a crowd of a dozen Walz supporters at Daube's Bakery in Rochester.

Durenberger's announcement comes on the heels of another moderate Republican breaking party ranks. Former GOP Gov. Arne Carlson announced last week he endorsed Independence Party candidate Tom Horner for governor.

But there's more than the headlines. A friend in the First says slightly more than 140 people attended a fundraiser last night featuring Durenberger; thore source said that the event featured "more Mayo than a club sandwich," and estimated that over $30,000 was raised.

The Walz campaign refused to comment.

I guess I'll just have to wait to read the next FEC report to verify the claim.

Photo: Walz and Durenberger, Danube Bakery, photo via the Post Bulletin.

Comments

[Phoenix Woman]

Wow! Durenberger's actually got more guts than Carlson. And this pretty much confirms that Walz is a mortal lock to keep his seat. Then again, I can't see any Republican from Dave's era backing any of the recent Clown Car occupants of the last three MN-01 GOP primaries.

[bob]

I think there were more than 140, maybe 200? Not just Mayo, but many Roch. business leaders. Sen. Durenberger was warm, gracious, and charming. Perfect weather. Nice evening.