MN 2nd Congress: Coleen Rowley facing possible primary opponent

[ISUGRADIA]

Marko won't run again for state Senate
DFLer considering a bid for Congress instead
BY NANCY YANG
Pioneer Press

State Sen. Sharon Marko, DFL-Cottage Grove, will not seek re-election this year after serving southern Washington County in the Minnesota House and Senate for more than a decade.

Marko said she will focus instead on considering a bid for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsement in the 2nd Congressional District against incumbent Rep. John Kline, a Republican.

"I have been urged to consider running for Congress. That takes a lot of time and focus, and I need to give it serious consideration," Marko said. "As we enter the new year and the process for the political cycle is beginning anew, I thought that in all fairness I needed to leave time for a successor to mount a campaign."

[Demrock6]

1. This would be good I think.

I was all about Rowley for a while but I am starting to wonder if she is a political opportunist vs true blue democrat. I have a read a lot of criticism around the blogs and much of it them makes sense. But to be fair I am also thinking the same thing about Kelly Doran as of late. Especially after getting an opportunist running mate.

Sigh, at least we got great folks in the senate race.

[katinmn]

2. Do you have any names or links to blogs containing criticism?

Would like to check them out and see what the fuss is about.

Thanks.

[Demrock6]

3. Here is some

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/22/141934/52

http://www.myelectionanalysis.com/?p=267#comments

I am not against Rowley but I personally do question her motives. I am probably just paranoid!

[katinmn]

5. PatMN's diary looks like a vicious personal attack with no facts to

substantiate the claim. My guess is she works for Marko or Kline.

Calling Rowley "obnoxious, abrasive, and anti-social" tells me that PatMN has never met Coleen. I have, and she's none of those things. My impression the times I've met her is that she is friendly and genuine but not effusive.

PatMN's questioning her motives for going to Camp Casey was a really cheap shot. Rowley went for the same reason I did, and thousands of others did, including State Senator Becky Lourey: to tell Bush we want an end to this war. Rowley knew she'd take a lot of criticism for going. It wasn't a "safe" thing for a politician to do, but it was the right thing.

Seems like most of the comments to the diary were requests for examples or proof, and others were in support of Colleen. I guess I don't understand WHICH motives people are questioning - Why she's in the race? Why she went to Crawford? All the answers are out there. She has a web site with positions on it, an issue blog and a contact number. :-)

That other site, put up by Sean Trende (aka horaceox) Member since December 19, 2005, called "My Election Analysis," won't strike much fear in Rowley's campaign. Just a couple paragraphs of opinion based on Marko's preachy quote in the Strib article. “you’d better be able to appeal to a broad spectrum, and you’d better be in the middle … I’m just not sure that Ms. Rowley has struck that balance yet.”

What is it with Markos anyway? If she thinks she would be a better candidate, she should just run. It would give her something useful to do besides serving as Kline's attack dog. Her motives are the ones I am questioning.

[Minnesota Raindog]

4. I wouldn't necessarily call Sheila Kiscaden an "opportunist"

That's what the state GOP called her. Anyone who gets kicked out of the GOP caucus by Dick Day can't be all bad.

And remember, Senate Majority Leader and DFLer Dean Johnson was a Republican once upon a time.