Mankato Free Press regional staff writer Josh Moniz reports in his Reporter's Notebook: 1st District: Nelson out, Quist endorses that political newbie Aaron Miller has snagged the endorsement of 2012 MNCD1 candidate Allen Quist in the Republican quest to unseat Tim Walz (DFL-Mankato):
The Miller campaign said the endorsement was a big gain in the race.
“I am excited to hear that Allen Quist has endorsed my campaign for Congress. We need a united front from all Republicans across this district to send a common sense conservative to Washington D.C.,” said Miller in a statement.
While Miller may be excited, Bluestem isn't surprised given Quist's penchant for keeping grudges.
In the 2010 endorsement battle that both Quist and current Miller rival Jim Hagedorn lost to Hayfield Republican Randy Demmer, Hagedorn ripped long time Quist political ally Michele Bachmann as a political liability. We had posted then:
Mr. Quist’s allegiance to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is understandable, and I would expect nothing less as Mrs. Quist serves as the congresswoman’s district director. Congresswoman Bachmann has impeccable conservative credentials and serves the 6th District with distinction. But tying one’s candidacy to another campaign is politically risky and offers the media a free pass to issue stories about Bachmann-Quist, rather than Tim Walz and his liberal voting record. . . .
Despite being a solid conservative, Quist campaigns are known for making provocative statements that often generate sympathy for opponents and undermine our conservative cause. Even during this relatively short campaign, counter-productive attacks made by Mr. Quist concerning Tim Walz and the Democratic Party provided Walz with a national media platform as well as a national fundraising base.
Way to make friends and influence people, Mr. Hagedorn.
As for the other contender, Rochester state representative Mike Benson was part of Quist rival Mike Parry's 2012 legislative leadership team. Parry and Quist engaged in a bitter primary fight, with Parry's chief political consultant Ben Golnik promoting old Quist gems from the 1990s and national reporters reviewing the Quist record, as we noted in In town hall, Quist disputes Mother Jones article; Golnik tweets 1994 source of gay/KKK remark and other posts.
The former state senator has returned the favor and endorsed Benson, as BSP reported in our early September post, Emo Senator Mike Parry endorses Representative Mike Benson in MNCD1 bid.
Then on staff at the New Ulm Journal, Moniz reported in Quist blames amendments, lack of national support for loss:
Allen Quist is attributing his Tuesday election loss in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District to a surprise DFL voter turnout fueled by Minnesota's constitutional amendments and a lack of support from national Republican organizations.
Quist, a former state lawmaker and a farmer, lost 142,162 votes, or 42 percent, to the 193,209 votes, or 57 percent, of his DFL incumbent opponent U.S Rep. Tim Walz. . . .
Cartoon: Ken Avidor's take on Allen Quist, 2010.
If you enjoyed reading this post, consider giving a donation via mail (P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or paypal:
I must say, Avidor's paying homage to Gahan Wilson's style is the perfect take on the utter creepiness of Allen Quist. Just -- eeeeuuwww. There is greenish-brown slime in that man's aura, I tell you.
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | Nov 14, 2013 at 10:52 PM