Sixth District endorsement conventions brighten the political calendar
in April with the Republicans gathering at the National Sports Center
in Blaine on Saturday (April 5).
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, likely faces no
challengers for endorsement, local Republican officials heaping
plaudits on the first-term lawmaker.
First term Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann speaks to an Anoka County business group on the condition of the U.S. economy. She will likely be endorsed without opposition at the Republican endorsing convention this weekend. (ABC Newspapers photo)
by T.W. BudigECM Capitol reporter
Sixth District endorsement conventions brighten the political calendar in April with the Republicans gathering at the National Sports Center in Blaine on Saturday (April 5).
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, likely faces no challengers for endorsement, local Republican officials heaping plaudits on the first-term lawmaker.
"I just think Michele (Bachmann) has done an awesome job being our congresswoman and representing us," said 6th Congressional District Republican Party Chairman Mark Swanson.
Sixth Congressional District Republican County Vice Chairman Andy Aplikowski of Anoka County opined that Democrats are pursuing a lost cause in trying to unseat Bachmann.
"I think it would take a miracle for either (Bob) Olson or (Elwyn) Tinklenberg at this point to beat her," said Aplikowski.
Democrats don't seem cowed.
Bachmann vulnerable
Sixth District DFL Party Chairwoman Nancy Schumacher views Bachmann as vulnerable.
"I think the voters of the Sixth are frankly quite embarrassed by Mrs. Bachmann on some of her recent antics," said Schumacher.
"I think as long as us Democrats get our message out to the swing voters, we have a terrific chance this year," she said.
Exactly which Democrat will hold aloft the party standard should become clearer after DFL party activists gather at Bunker Hills Activity Center in Andover on April 26 for their district endorsement convention.
Both former Ventura Transportation Commissioner Tinklenberg and St. Cloud businessman Olson have traveled twisting paths to the convention.
Tinklenberg lost endorsement two years ago to child safety activist Patty Wetterling after Wetterling switched from the U.S. Senate race to the 6th Congressional District.
Like Wetterling, Olson also started as a U.S. Senate candidate but switched to the district weeks after announcing his statewide candidacy.
Close to being decided
Schumacher views the endorsement contest between Tinklenberg and Olson as close to being decided. "I don't think it's (the race) open," said Schumacher.
Only two more local DFL conventions take place this weekend, she explained.
Her delegate count suggests Tinklenberg is on the threshold of endorsement, Schumacher explained. "I think Tinklenberg is very close to the required 60 percent," she said.
"That's certainly not to say anything bad about Mr. Olson - it's wonderful to have two good candidates," said Schumacher. "But my sense is that it will go Tinklenberg - but I could be wrong," she said.
For his part, Olson argues the contest is very much alive. Delegate responses have been encouraging, he insisted.
Some soothsayers have him trailing Tinklenberg, Olson acknowledged. "Yeah, and it's a little confusing because everybody else who isn't talking to the delegates, they're saying
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