TO: Minnesota CD2 Delegates
FROM: Sacha Haworth, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
DATE: May 5, 2016
RE: This weekend’s GOP CD2 Convention: What You Need to Know
Dear Delegates,
As you prepare yourself for this weekend’s Republican nominating convention, we thought it would be helpful to arm you with all the necessary information on the field of GOP candidates you’ll choose to be your nominee to run against DFL-er Angie Craig this fall.
Sadly, you don’t have the most inspiring field to choose from. But don’t take it from us – even before Congressman John Kline announced he was “disappointed” in and “concerned” with the field, the National Republican Congressional Committee failed to recruit a single one of their top choices. One by one, each possible recruit barely seemed to consider it before passing.
And poor John Kline – he “tried hard to persuade” Mary Pawlenty, wife of former Governor Tim, to run, but even she gave it a hard pass.
Comparing this disappointing GOP field with “rising star” DFL candidate Angie Craig, national race watchers clearly agree with Kline: they’ve all deemed Minnesota’s 2nd District race a “toss-up.”
As one journalist put it, “Republicans are a mess.” Here’s a closer look at your meager choices:
Jason Lewis:
Jason Lewis is an ultra-right-wing talk show host from Minnesota – called “Minnesota’s Mr. Right” by the Minnesota Tea Party and endorsed by the shadowy Freedom Club – now running for Congress.
Jason Lewis has made his name tearing down women and minorities on the air waves, and now he is running from his right-wing record: as soon as he announced his congressional run, he scrubbed all of his talk show archives from his website.
When even the Republican establishment has denounced his commentary, you know Jason Lewis is too conservative for Minnesota. That’s why we say: #NeverLewis.
David Gerson:
Failed candidate David Gerson is now on his third try to out-conservative John Kline, suggesting first and foremost that we start means-testing seniors for their Social Security benefits.
Although Lewis is the one the Tea Party has dubbed “Minnesota’s Mr. Right,” Gerson identifies closely with the Tea Party, and has pledged to join the right-wing House Freedom Caucus if elected. Gerson has also railed against the IRS, threatening to impeach President Obama if he did not fire his IRS Commissioner.
Darlene Miller:
Darlene Miller has been running from her past since she announced her run for Congress. An insider candidate through and through, Darlene totally abandoned any effort to win delegate support, instead saying she wouldn’t abide by your endorsement, and staying indoors to raise money (although even that wasn’t much to brag about).
Darlene has been under fire for accepting stimulus money from both the Obama and Bush administrations, trying to hide from it, and then lying about it.
John Howe:
Howe has been shoveling his personal wealth (or rather, his wife’s) into this race, with little to show for it. So far he’s failed to win much support from delegates, or to raise that much money aside from his own, which is surprising for a current state Senator and former mayor of Red Wing.
Howe did lose his last state Senate election to a DFL-er, which probably doesn’t bode all that well for him.
CONCLUSION
As you can see, you don’t have the best lot to choose from. We can see why outgoing Congressman John Kline continues to be “disappointed” in the field.
Angie Craig, on the other hand, has the DFL field all to herself – and as the Pioneer Press put it, “her campaign war chest of $1.3 million is bigger than all the Republican candidates’ put together.” Whichever Republican candidate you choose will emerge from this primary bruised, broke, and ill-prepared to take on Angie Craig in the fall.
We know it’s a tough choice, so best of luck. And remember, now that Donald Trump is the presumptive presidential nominee – it’s Donald Trump’s Party now, and you’re just living in it.