Sixth District Republican challenger learning the district a foot at a time
by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter
“It’s a lonely job out here,” said Aubrey Immelman, 6th Congressional District Republican challenger.
While 6th District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, was appearing on CNN today (Aug. 13), Immelman was plodding down Highway 10 intent on reaching Anoka.
The journey is part of Immelman’s campaign strategy to cross the big district on foot to advertise his challenge to Bachmann in the Sept. 9 primary.
“I’m giving everyone the thumbs up but no one knows who I am,” said Immelman, talking on a cell phone along Highway 10 this morning as trucks zoomed by.
“I’m just outside of Big Lake but I’m going to press onto Anoka if I can, even if I don’t get there by eight (p.m.),” he said.
If Immelman succeeds in reaching the Halloween Capitol of World he would have hoofed about 26 miles.
Immelman is carried a campaign sign with him, but it’s not one that can easily be read at 65 mph, he noted.
“(It’s) not a huge sign. I have a regular, typing-paper-sized thing around my neck,” said the college professor and security expert.
“I’m having car magnets made. It’s going to take another week or so to get it,” he said.
Immelman plans to telephone radio and television stations to try to alert the public that the guy along the shoulder in the 6th District isn’t hitchhiking.
“If I can get the message out that the guy you see walking along the highway — he’ll either give you a military salute or a thumbs up — that’s the guy who’s walking for Congress,” said Immelman.
He has met a few people along the roadside.
“When you’re on the highway, you don’t run into an awful lot of people,” Immelman acknowledged.
Near Big Lake the candidate paused by a cross on the roadside — someone must have been killed, Immelman guessed — when two elderly ladies stopped.
“The first thing they wanted to know was — ‘Republican or Democrat?’” said Immelman.
The seniors informed Immelman that they couldn’t vote for him because he was from the wrong party, he explained.
“They said, ‘We’re from Stillwater. We don’t like Michele Bachmann but we can’t vote for you because we’re Democrats,’” he said.
Immelman plans to keep crossing the 6th District.
“I want to get this walk behind me,” he said.
“And just so I don’t get out of shape, maybe next week or so I start walking in the other direction,” he said.
One reason Immelman decided not to hike everyday was out of concern for the dogs.
“It’s getting a little better,” he said of his feet.
“You usually don’t feel it until the next day,” said Immelman, who served in the South African military.
A few weeks ago Immelman did some practice marches and found he could do it alright, but he got tired.
“I found now I don’t need to rest. I can keep walking as long as I keep drinking water,” he said.
Bachmann is expected to return to Washington later this week to participate in a Republican protest on energy.
Here’s the deal: anyone who voted for or supports the “Patriot Act” (there’s a misnomer), FISA, Real ID, or other attacks against constitutional liberties deserves at the very least, to be ousted from office. I will need to check Mr. Immelman’s stance on these issues vs. Ms. Bachmann’s.