While Gov. Tim Pawlenty's recent decision not to seek another term caught some Republicans off guard, the DFL gubernatorial field was already active.

This week saw DFL candidates crisscrossing the state, visiting Native American reservations, meeting with labor officials, even fund raising in California. The list of actual and potential DFL gubernatorial candidates is long.

by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

While Gov. Tim Pawlenty's recent decision not to seek another term caught some Republicans off guard, the DFL gubernatorial field was already active.

This week saw DFL candidates crisscrossing the state, visiting Native American reservations, meeting with labor officials, even fund raising in California.

The list of actual and potential DFL gubernatorial candidates is long.

From the Legislature there's recently announced candidate Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, and House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis.

Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, is often found on lists of potential candidates for higher office and people have spoken to her about the governorship, Clark said.

"I am concerned that there's nobody right now in the (DFL) field from the growth areas of the state,” said Clark. "It would be great if there was,” she said. "I'm not ruling anything out. But I'm certainly not saying I'm jumping in,” she said of running for governor.

Auditor Otto urged to run

Another suburban DFL official, State Auditor Rebecca Otto, like Clark said people have urged her to run. "That doesn't mean that's what I'm going to do,” said Otto.

Asked where running for governor fell on a one to ten scale of her personal priorities — ten being top priority — Otto graded it a two or three.

The DFL gubernatorial field also includes former state senator Steve Kelley of Hopkins — Kelley lost the DFL party endorsement to former Attorney General Mike Hatch in 2006 and then lost a bid for attorney general to Lori Swanson — and former House minority leader Matt Entenza of St. Paul.

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner is another DFL gubernatorial hopeful.

Yet another DFL gubernatorial candidate is former U.S. senator Mark Dayton, who recently spoke while driving down the Ventura Highway on a trip to California.

Dayton views the role of governor as suiting him. "Being governor allows you to be a lot more proactive — rolling up your sleeves and solving problems,” said Dayton. "And I think that's my strength,” he said.

While hoping to win the DFL Party endorsement, Dayton said he planned to run in the DFL primary with or without endorsement.

Former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton announced his interest in the governor's office many months ago and since that time has been fund raising.

"I'd much rather run with the party,” he said. "But I believe in democracy — that voters should be the ones to decide,” said Dayton.

Entenza campaigns full time

Entenza, caught between meetings in the northwest part of the state, is campaigning full time and put 5,000 miles on his car over the last five weeks, he said.

Entenza speaks of being the bearer of a message of job creation, building the state's economy.

"And I believe we can make Minnesota the Silicon Valley of clean energy,” said Entenza.

Asked if being out of office for several years had hurt his name recognition, Entenza thought otherwise.

"Other than senator Dayton, I think I probably have the best name recognition in the state,” said Entenza.

"I'm certainly not a household name. I wouldn't pretend that,” he said. But people active in policy making know who he is, Entenza said.

Entenza, who at the last minute pulled out of the attorney general's race in 2006 after revelations concerning his hiring of a Chicago-based firm to investigate Hatch damaged his campaign, indicated a willingness to abide by the DFL Party endorsement under certain conditions.

Former Rep. Matt Entenza has been out of the political scene for three years but says he is still known by the public.

"I intend to abide by it as long as all the other major candidates abide by it,” he said. "I think it's important for all us to play by the same rules,” Entenza said.

He learned from the Hatch incident, said Entenza, and deemed it a small factor in his 12-year record.

Sen. Bakk out traveling, too

As Entenza and Dayton were travelling this week, so was Bakk.

Bakk is the chairman of the Senate Tax Committee, served in the House, and speaks the language of job creation, economic growth.

Bakk hinged his campaign's future on his winning the DFL Party endorsement. "Without the endorsement, I'm not going to go any further,” he said. "First job at hand is to get that endorsement,” said Bakk.

Bakk said he has spent months meeting with business leaders from across the state — reaching out.

For a Democrat to win, a successful candidate must tap into support beyond the DFL base, said Bakk.

"Because what I don't plan on doing is getting the endorsement, winning the primary, and then losing in November,” said Bakk.

He would be a "formidable” primary candidate with the DFL party endorsement, said Bakk.

Immediately after Bakk declared his candidacy for governor, Republicans attacked him for wanting to raise taxes last session.

Bakk envisions a gubernatorial campaign with honest talk about the state budget.

The next governor will wake up the day after the election facing a huge budget deficit, said Bakk.

"There is no way the next governor can put a budget together without some revenue — that is not going to happen,” said Bakk, adding that Pawlenty couldn't do it.

"I just don't think somebody who signs the No New Tax pledge is going to be considered a viable or serious candidate in this next election,” he said.

Clark also spoke of the need for Democrats to tap into moderates and independents for support.

"There's a real desire to win (the Governor's Office),” said Clark of feelings among her fellow Democrats.

Democrats haven't held the Governor's Office since 1991.

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