Minnesota Report
Now, on the matter of Straw Polls, these are an opportunity that is often missed by both parties and while we are still waiting for the DFL to announce it’s results of it’s own, but with two significant statewide races with inter-party contests for two open seats US Senate and Governor, why isn’t there a party loyalist poll of the US Senate Candidates? Additionally, with an another open seat in the 2nd Congressional District, due to Congresswoman Angie Craig’s all-in bid for the US Senate, why isn’t there a Straw Poll there as well. This is an opportunity to generate buzz, press and interest in your candidates.
On the GOP side, the recent entrance of Michelle Tafoya (R-MN) could be measured. On the DFL side determining which candidate Lt Governor Peggy Flanagan (DFL-MN) or Angie Craig (DFL-MN) is currying favor with the people who are set to be delegates to the respective State Conventions or are sending said delegates to said conventions.
Now because our publisher has significant experience in party processes, the question over Straw Polls is one he fought for decades ago and prevailed over Chief Deputy Attorney General and future Federal Judge John “Jack” Tunheim in 1994. At that time, in advance of the 6th Congressional District convention Shawn Towle advocated for a Straw Poll for Governor, over the opposition of the Freeman Campaign, of which Tunheim was a co-Chair. Towle argued the significance of a Congressional District which offered a broad cross-section of Minnesotans with an acknowledgment of the importance of the “Suburban Voice” and prevailed. As he said it then, “So goes the sixth, so goes the state,” with the importance being the suburbs should be where most of the attention should be focused in the state, as is evident in our current state politics.
Historical note: The results of the Congressional District 6 Straw Poll directly showed the sentiments of the district at the time with regarding the Governor’s race to challenge either the incumbent Arne Carlson (IR-MN) or former State Representative Allen Quist. The DFL race was between Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman (DFL) Senator John Marty (DFL-54, Roseville) and, former Commerce Commissioner Mike Hatch (DFL). In the end the results showed Freeman with 41%, Marty 37% and Hatch in single digits.
Later the endorsement went to Marty, a St Paul suburban legislator, but only after Mike Hatch (DFL) finagled with the MCCL (MN Citizen’s Concerned for Life) and got the anti-Choicers to back Marty because Hatch thought he was the easiest to beat in the DFL Primary.
This resulted in a top of the fold, Metro section front page Pioneer Press story, by Gary Dawson. Which is the reason for a Straw Poll in the first place, to garner media attention of an event and to result in a news story after.
The reason the Freeman Campaign wanted to kill the poll was the Freeman Campaign Manager Sarah Stoesz asked Towle, who was the 6th Congressional District coordinator for Freeman, “What are the results going to be?” Towle said, “It’s tight. Us 39% Marty 37.” She said, “Not good enough, kill the poll.” To which, Towle ignored her instruction, having dedication to his district over the campaign, and having belief in his own mantra, “So goes the sixth, so goes the state.” This is an example of what some have come to call a Towleism.
For the record, the John Marty and Nancy Larson ticket prevailed in the DFL Primary barely, with 37.80% over Mike Hatch and Bob Schmitz 36.40%. Then experienced one of the greatest historical DFL losses with a 34.12% result losing to Arne Carlson with 63.34%.