Rochester in the Bullseye
With the tide of national opinion in flux, we here in Rochester are in the bullseye. The questions of a permanent republican majority have quickly evaporated with republican scandals mounting. Now the democrats are talking about taking back 15 seats in Congress which would put them in the majority for the first time in more than a decade. One part of that 15 will be played out right here.
DFL'er Tim Walz, challenger to GOP Congressman Gil Gutknecht, is one of the candidates the punditocracy is calling the Fighting Dems, and here democrats who have fought in the War on Terrorists. This is a group of soldiers who are running as credible challengers to the powers that be. Tim is getting national coverage, the Boston Globe, Atlantic Monthly, and Air America Radio.
For Tim Walz, a full 2/3 of the votes are found right here in the Rochester area. Which brings us to the Minnesota State House races. With Fran Bradley, longtime legislator in 29B, dropping his run for 2006, this is DFL'er Kim Norton's race to lose. This translates to a full 1/4th of Rochester swinging to the DFL column. Meanwhile nearly another 1/2 is already in DFL hands. DFL'ers Tina Liebling and Andy Welti are fighting hard to prove that 2004 was no fluke; they are out knocking on our doors and listening to their constituents concerns ALREADY! DFLer Dave Pugh is likewise a credible challenger for 29A, with a biography that resonates - former Lutheran minister, now high school math teacher.
Although this is a non-presidential year, a year with typically low voter turnout, look for a great deal of national attention on Rochester again!
