Democrats proclaim unity following tight primary contest
08/11/2010
by Paul Demko
Published: August 11,2010
Time posted: 3:50 pm
One day after Mark Dayton triumphed in an extraordinarily close gubernatorial primary contest, DFLers gathered at the Capitol to proclaim unity heading into the November general election. The former U.S. Senator was joined by his top two rivals for the Democratic nomination, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza.
“Today we unite as DFLers,” Kelliher said to loud cheers in a packed Capitol hearing room. “That’s what we are doing today. Today we united behind Mark Dayton and we unite to beat Tom Emmer in November.”
“Mark has a vision for all of Minnesota,” added Entenza, “and that is the vision that is going to win this election in November of 2010.”
Dayton triumphed by less than 7,000 votes over Kelliher out of more than 430,000 cast. Entenza trailed well behind with just 18 percent of the vote. It was the closest DFL primary since 1994, when state Sen. John Marty won by less than 6,000 votes over Mike Hatch in a three-way contest.
Despite predictions that an August election would lead to low turnout, it was also the highest participation rate in a decade for a statewide primary. Roughly 15 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
Other DFL luminaries that were on hand for the post-primary Capitol gathering: U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum. Numerous staff members from both the Entenza and Kelliher camps were also on hand for the pep rally.
Not surprisingly, Republicans wasted no time attacking Dayton. The state GOP immediately released a television commercial ridiculing his “failed” tenure in Washington.
But Democrats insisted that they will present a united front with Dayton in seeking to win a gubernatorial contest for the first time in 24 years.”Now is the time for every single one of us to stand with him in November,” said Kelliher. “We need to do this.”