Reportedly Dems are urging Minnesota governor not to appoint a "caretaker" for Franken's seat.

[Texin]

I saw this yesterday afternoon and now I cannot remember where I read this, though I believe it was on twitter and it was from Lawrence O'Donnell or someone from MSNBC. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else can shed some light on what they think this means. Is this a suggestion that the Dems want someone who is well known and a powerful and respected enough individual that would easily (as if) be electable in 2018, or does it seem to suggest that they're trying to forestall a possible decision by Franken to reenter and run again in 2018? I can't tell what they're aiming for here.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. I assume they just want someone who's going to take advantage of the power of incumbency.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I don't think appointing a caretaker is such a terrible idea.

For one thing, it gives the state party time to sort out viable candidates and fundraising strategies (and the opportunity to vote in a primary election - the stupid Senate took away our 2020 vote for Franken; we should at least have the right to participate in choosing his successor). Also, it gives the GOP less time to work out an opposition strategy if they don't know right away who the D candidate will be.

[Hortensis]

6. Agree. Gives up that incumbent advantage, though,

and I read Schumer is pushing Gov. Dayton to appoint someone who will go on to run for the seat in 2018, when the other MN senate seat will also be up for grabs.

[FarCenter]

3. In '78, incumbency was a handicap.

In 1978, all three key statewide races in Minnesota were up for election—the Governorship, and both Senate Seats (the other Senate seat belonged to Hubert Humphrey, who died in 1978). But, there was a particular oddity to the three races—all three had incumbents who were never elected to the office in the first place. This became a well played issue by the Republicans—a billboard put up across the state read, "The DFL is going to face something scary -- an election".

When Walter Mondale ascended to the Vice Presidency in 1976, sitting Governor Wendell Anderson appointed himself to the open seat. This act did not sit well with the electorate. Plywood magnate Rudy Boschwitz campaigned as a liberal Republican and spent freely of his own money, but all that seemed to really matter was that he was neither a DFLer or Wendell Anderson in an election cycle where both were rejected by the voters. The end result was not even close—the challenger Boschwitz won in a 16-point landslide as all three statewide offices switched into Republican hands

.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_special_election_in_Minnesota,_1978
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_Minnesota,_1978
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_gubernatorial_election,_1978

[CentralMass]

4. The judge of the kanagaroo court has spoken.

[left-of-center2012]

5. A vacant seat gives the GOP more power

It would be one less vote against the GOP.

Where's the logic in that?

I previously read that Tina Smith, who is currently the Lt Governor, might be appointed.

Also, in his "resignation speech", Franken referred to the person who would follow him as "she";
something like "She will ...".

Here's some info on her:

http://www.newsweek.com/who-will-replace-al-franken-741007

[kstewart33]

7. Dayton wants to appoint his Lieutenant Governor.

She will not run for the seat in 2018 and has made that clear. Such opens the race up to any Dem and the unknown is almost always risky. That's the problem.

[flamingdem]

8. Here's an article about it

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029954999

[Thor_MN]

9. What "Dems" think was that Franken should go, so fuck them...

Dayton will decide what is right for Minnesota when and if Franken actually resigns, not "Dems".