At the beginning of last week’s parade I saw the DFL’s renegade gubenatorial candidate Becky Lourey. She walked over to say hello and thank me for my contribution. I was momentarily muddled and said that my wife had probably made it but wished her good luck. Afterwards, I recalled that I’d told a phone solicitor to send me a letter and I’d decide later how big a check I’d give her campaign.
Towards the end of the parade as Becky was turning back to find her car I saw her again and as we waved hello I offered her one of my bookmarks just as she held up her hand to show me that she already had one. In the brief instant between our reaching out to each other I knocked the bookmark out of her hand. I had to scramble to catch it and return it.
I just wrote Becky a small check. Because its Minnesota and because I haven’t written any other contributions to local candidates I’ll get it back from the state which hardly makes my check a contribution at all. (Minnesota refunds up to $100.00 – but no more - to state residents who donate to candidates for the state legislature or for statewide office) I’m rooting for Becky to upend Mike Hatch the DFL’s official nominee. Hatch backstabbed his old boss Rudy Perpich and he stikes me as a nasty bully disguised as a consumer crusader. I don’t care for his buzzsaw delivery or the chip on his shoulder.
As a Republican I’ve always regarded Lourey as a bleeding heart, big spending, liberal who comes across as a bit of a ditz. The fact of the matter is that while she is some of those things she is also a person of deep conviction. I’d take an honest idealist over an opportunist almost any day. That the DFL has opted for Hatch despite his unsavory reputation is evidence of their desperation to win.
I predict that Pawlenty will clean Mike’s clock even in this very bad year for Republicans. If Lourey loses its too bad that the Democrats won’t have an honorable candidate for Governor this year.
