Political hopefuls get star support

08/14/2006

Big names raise funds but can inspire enemies

BY RACHEL E. STASSEN-BERGER
Pioneer Press

There’s been a parade of political stars traipsing through Minnesota this year.

Vice President Dick Cheney, Democratic U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Republican strategist Karl Rove have all been here to stump for the state’s federal candidates. Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, the 2004 Democratic vice presidential candidate, rallied supporters of Amy Klobuchar’s Democratic Senate bid on Thursday and President George W. Bush is slated to visit later this month to glean money for Michele Bachmann, a GOP congressional candidate.

Minnesota has earned the visits by being a swing state with high-profile, contested races in an election year that might see a change of power in the U.S. House and Senate. The luminaries help bring excitement, momentum and the all-important campaign cash to the races.

But the visits also bring a potential downside. For both Republicans and Democrats who pitch themselves as independent candidates, a potentially crucial moniker this year, the visits from party stalwarts give opponents a chance to link those running for office to the personalities already in power.

“When you invite a guest, you inherit both his friends and his enemies,” said Larry Sabato of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

While Edwards prepared to give his glowing words of support for Klobuchar last week, Republicans prepared their take on the Democratic heavyweight. Mark Drake, Republican spokesman, said Edwards’ visit was a sign that Klobuchar comes from the left wing of the Democratic Party.

When Cheney came to Minnesota to raise money earlier this summer for Bachmann, DFL Party Chairman Brian Melendez opined that the vice president “embodies the Republican culture of corruption. In the vice president you’ve got it all — Halliburton, Big Oil and sweetheart deals that line billionaires’ pockets.”

That visitor bashing is part of the calculated risk politicians take when they invite the heavy hitters to town.

“Sometimes when a celebrity comes into town, it just fires up the opposition,” said former state Republican Party chairman Ron Eibensteiner.

But most candidates figure the upside — often in the form of campaign cash — outweighs any negative repercussions.

“Anybody who tells you that the dollars aren’t the number one reason (for visits) isn’t being real straight with you,” said Ron Carey, state Republican Party chairman.

A single fundraising visit from President Bush last year earned U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy, a Republican running for Senate, about $1 million for his campaign. When first lady Laura Bush came by for a visit in June, Kennedy got about another $550,000.

That money can help buy lots of campaign ads in which Kennedy can declare his independence from the president on key Minnesota issues, helping divorce himself from the appearance that he is too wedded to unpopular GOP positions.

“Even though it doesn’t help you with any swing voters to have George Bush come in for your campaign, there are the hard-core Republican contributors who will still show up and pay,” said Bob Meek, a Minnesota Democratic political analyst.

Hard-core Democratic and Republican activists also get a chance to see their political heroes up close — something that could motivate their drive to get local party folks elected.

“It’s about rallying the base,” said Andy O’Leary, DFL Party executive director.

Sure, Klobuchar alone can get a partisan bunch worked up. But the good-looking, former vice presidential candidate Edwards brings with him a new excitement.

“We love you John Edwards!” shouted one woman from the crowd of a few hundred who stood in the noontime sun last week to hear Edwards talk about his hopes for a better America.

Bachmann, a Stillwater state senator vying for the 6th District congressional seat, has gotten her share of GOP luminary love. Rove, Cheney and House Speaker Dennis Hastert have all visited the state to raise cash and enthusiasm for her competitive race. President Bush plans to visit later this month to do the same.

Minnesota didn’t used to garner so much high-profile firepower.

“Ten years ago, if any U.S senator or congressman came to Minnesota, it was a really big deal … Now, I think people are almost fatigued by having outsiders come in,” said GOP chairman Carey.

The difference is that Minnesota used to be seen as a fairly reliably Democratic state. But in the past decade, it has been seen as a swing state that could tip the balance in a politically divided nation.

This year Minnesota could potentially flip parties in the governor’s office, in a U.S. Senate seat and in two U.S. House seats.

And folks in politics expect the parade to keep on traipsing through. Al Gore and former President Bill Clinton haven’t stopped by our state for a while. First lady Laura Bush was here in June but she’s always a draw.

“You’ve got one of the most competitive Senate races in the country, you have got a competitive governor race, and you’ve got the potential for at least one turnover in the House,” Sabato said. “Minnesota is on everybody’s list for visits.”