Senator Dayton endorcing Bush Supporter Randy Kelly for St Paul Mayor

[ISUGRADIA]

I was sorry to read this today. After whoring himself to the Bush campaign last year I was hoping he'd be shunned by all elected Dems for his treachery.

"As if to put an exclamation point on his repeated declarations of "I am a Democrat," St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly on Tuesday announced that more than a dozen members of the party are backing his reelection effort.

They include U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, St. Paul City Council Member Dan Bostrom, and past and present locally elected officials. Aside from Bostrom, none of the local advocates currently represents St. Paul.

....

Other backers include: Sen. Sharon Marko, of Cottage Grove; Sen. Dallas Sams, of Staples; Sen. Dan Sparks, of Austin; former St. Paul Mayor Tom Byrne; former City Council Members Vic Tedesco, Ron Maddox and Len Levine, and former state Rep. Tom Osthoff, of St. Paul."

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5230415.html

[WI_DEM]

1. why are they doing this?

This guy sounds like another Norm Coleman to me--nip him in the bud--NOW.

[LisaM]

2. Well what are the alternatives?

Is he running against someone way worse?

[ISUGRADIA]

4. Kelly is the incumbent who has two opponents who are real Dems

I believe, Ortega and Coleman (I can't remember their first names). Someone more familiar with these two could confirm this, but I think both are credible candidates and real Democrats.

[Wickerman]

3. So he can act surprised when the corruption investigation hits

Kelly? Make him fall harder?

http://wcco.com/localnews/local_story_036105457.html

FBI Looking At Two St. Paul Corruption Allegations

Feb 5, 2005 9:50 am US/Central
St. Paul (AP) The FBI is investigating corruption allegations involving a city employee, Mayor Randy Kelly said.

The mayor's office wouldn't disclose the nature of the allegations, identify the employee or say what work the employee does.

"The accusation we are talking about today is serious and is of grave concern to me," Kelly said Friday. He said the investigation involves just one employee

[hermetic]

5. Cat's out of the bag now

Kelly confirmed the FBI has been investigating Sia Lo, the mayor's adviser on issues involving the Hmong community, for about 10 months although Lo only learned about the inquiry Tuesday morning.

You can find this at: http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=75256

[lojasmo]

6. Dayton has announced he's not running in 2006

Also will be withdrawing endorsement for Kelly.

[Eric J in MN]

7. Why did Mark Dayton endore Kelly in the first place?

I am truly curious as to why Dayton would have endorsed a pro-Bush mayor.

[latteromden]

9. This is weird. Can't stop thinking that. I'm not suggesting a conspiracy,

just: this is weird.

[lojasmo]

10. They're close personal friends, evidently. EOM

[DFLforever]

11. Friends or not, Mark should have more sense!

Kelly is not going to be the endorsed candidate. He's not even seeking the endorsement. He knows he could never get it. It'll probably go to Ortega. Incidentally, Ortega says the GOP is putting 1 million dollars into Kelly's campaign.

[Eric J in MN]

8. Randy Kelly will remain a "Democrat."

He can substitute for Zell Miller on Fox News that way.