DFL: UNITY Campaign

08/10/2010

Published : Tuesday, 10 Aug 2010, 8:43 PM CDT
Jeff GOldberg / FOX 9 News


SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Unity. That is the word of the moment for the DFL party, even before the primary is done.

Speaking just a few minutes ago with DFL chair Brian Melendez, he says he thinks Margaret Anderson Kelliher will win the primary tonight. "Things look like they're breaking for Margaret", said Melendez.

However, Melendez addressed the possibility (some say probability) of a Mark Dayton win.
If the former senator prevails, Melendez says there will be party unity, even though the party and Dayton have at times been at odds (after Dayton decided against abiding by the party endorsement process, he was denied a floor pass to the April convention by party leaders), Melendez says, "Mark Dayton is well liked and well thought of" in the DFL party.

Melendez predicts that whoever wins tonight will also win in November. He says the party will rally and unite behind the nominee, and that, "the only way Tom Emmer could win in November is if the DFL party came out of the primary process fractured, which has not happened. Don't get your hopes up Tom Emmer."

We'll know in just a few hours whether it's Dayton's money and name recognition that prevails, or the power of the DFL party and Kelliher. And if it's Entenza's night, all predictions would be out the window.