Kennedy kicks off Senate campaign on Gutknecht’s turf
02/23/2005
ROCHESTER (AP)—U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy, the early GOP favorite to run for the U.S. Senate in 2006, tried to keep the momentum building Monday as he kicked off a statewide tour in the back yard of potentially his strongest Republican challenger, fellow Rep. Gil Gutknecht.
That’s not an exaggeration. Kennedy appeared in a hotel ballroom that’s just down the hall from Gutknecht’s local headquarters.
“I thought it was a little strange,” said Mark Bofferding, chairman of the Olmsted County Republican Party.
Kennedy’s campaign staff said the Rochester Ramada was simply the best place to hold such an event, and that it was not meant as a warning shot at Gutknecht.
And while Kennedy had only kind words for his colleague, he left little doubt he’d like to see Gutknecht stay in the House.
Baxter campaign stop
Rep. Mark Kennedy, D-Minn., who grew up in Pequot Lakes, brings his campaign for the U.S. Senate to Culver’s at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Earlier that day, Kennedy will pump gas at the Oasis in Pequot Lakes, the site of one of his first jobs.
Kennedy lives in Watertown and represents the Sixth District in Congress. The district includes the St. Cloud area and the Twin Cities’ northern suburbs.
He is the son of Eugene and Alvina Kennedy of Pequot Lakes.
“I have the highest respect for Congressman Gutknecht,” Kennedy said. “I think he would make a phenomenal chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. I’m confident I will be the candidate of our party and be elected to the Senate in 2006.”
Thought Gutknecht has expressed interest in the Senate seat, Kennedy, a three-term congressman from the 6th District, is already supported by party honchos, including U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman.
Former Sen. Rod Grams, who lost the seat to Democrat Mark Dayton in 2000, also says he’s running.
Gutknecht’s campaign manager, Niels Pierson, said that Gutknecht met last Friday in Rochester with 18 of his closest political confidants to discuss his options. Pierson said most of Gutknecht’s closest supporters have told him they’d support him no matter what he decides to do.
Dayton announced a few weeks ago that he won’t run for re-election. No Democrats have officially entered the race, though quite a few are said to be interested. Gutknecht is in Europe this week for meetings on farm trade and biotechnology. Pierson said Gutknecht and his wife, Mary, would discuss their future during the trip. Gutknecht has promised an announcement by March 1.
Kennedy said he started his tour in Rochester because he was invited by members of his church to visit a faith program it helps operate in town.
Pierson said he didn’t read anything into Kennedy’s decision to start his weeklong tour in Gutknecht country.