The primary contest in MNCD1 looks as if it's going to be a nasty one. Let's walk through some of the developments.
Hagedorn faults Miller for following VA policy on campaigning
A call to the Minneapolis VA Health Care System Public Affairs office by Bluestem has confirmed that one claim that primary challenger Jim Hagedorn has leveled at endorsed Republican Aaron Miller--that he should have campaigned at a Veterans Administration Clinic open house in April--would have violated regulations about campaigning on federal property.
Bluestem had raised the question in our first post, Sweet MNCD1 dreams are made of this: Hagedorn to challenge Miller for Republican nomination.
Subsequently, Mankato Free Press reporter Josh Moniz posted Hagedorn's unsigned letter (allegedly written by dissatisfied CD1 delegates) on Scrib'd. In the letter (excerpt above), Miller is criticized for not campaigning at an April 25 VA clinic opening in Albert Lea. Walz attended, but in the course of his official duties.
The Minneapolis VA public affairs official Bluestem spoke with could not recall an instance of any candidate from any party campaigning at the VA in Minnesota.
Fake Hagedorn twitter account
but Hagedorn is getting a dose of harsh as well. At the Mankato Free Press, Josh Moniz reports in 1st District Republican race gets nasty:
The Republican primary race for Minnesota's 1st Congressional District took a nasty turn Monday night with the emergence of a fake Twitter account apparently aimed at smearing Jim Hagedorn of Blue Earth, who just jumped back into the race Sunday. . . .
On Monday, the fake Twitter account created by an unknown source emerged around 10 p.m. with Hagedorn's photograph, his campaign logo and his campaign phone number. The account used the handle @hagedorn4mn, which is deceptively similar to the Hagedorn campaign's official handle of @JimHagedornMN. . . .
The account was suspended by Twitter at midnight. The last tweet sent by the account prior to suspension was "Bye Jim Hagedorn, I don't wish you well." . . .
The Miller campaign denied having any involvement with the fake Twitter account.
Read the entire article at the Free Press.
Post Bulletin: An ill wind for Republicans
At the Rochester Post Bulletin, the editoiral board opines in Our View: Hagedorn's change of heart won't help GOP:
Rep. Tim Walz must have a guardian angel. And a lucky rabbit's foot. Perhaps his yard brims with four-leafed clover. Or maybe he's made some sort of Faustian bargain. Whatever the reason, things just keep breaking his way.
Suffice to say the Democrat from Mankato should be giddy about the latest twist in the GOP's effort to unseat him in Minnesota's First District. Jim Hagedorn, who one month ago vowed to abide by the party's endorsement of Aaron Miller, has changed his mind. That means Miller, a political newcomer from Byron, will have to spend at least some of his resources and time this summer campaigning against Hagedorn, rather than Walz, in preparation for a primary on Aug. 12. . . .
Read the rest at the PB.
In the meantime, we're popping some corn.
Screenshot: An anonymous letter raps Miller for not campaigning on federal property. We think Miller did the right thing.
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