The Candidate

By Cathy of Alex

Today, Al Franken was officially declared and certified as Senator of the state of Minnesota. For the record, the election was nearly nine months ago. Norm Coleman ended his legal challenges and stated he would abide by the state Supreme Court's decision.

It so happens that Tim Pawlenty will not be running for the Governor's office in Minnesota in 2010.

I don't think Norm Coleman is going to go fishing for the rest of his life. He'll be back.

Maybe he'll run for Governor, maybe not. But, he will remain a political player. You can count on that.

I listened to the Coleman press conference this afternoon on Minnesota Public Radio's Internet stream. I found it VERY interesting that Coleman made a point out of mentioning, right away, that his wife Laurie, a Roman Catholic, was currently in Rome and was praying a Rosary at the Vatican when the Court decision was announced. Allegedly she even met up with Father Joseph Johnson of the Cathedral of St. Paul in Rome, said Coleman.

In all these years, I've NEVER heard Coleman mention his wife's faith (Coleman is Jewish). Is it possible that Coleman realizes that conservative Catholics are looking for a candidate? Coleman is savvy. He's an experience campaigner. He's not stupid.

You ask: Why should what happens in Minnesota matter? State races effect all of us. The balance of the legislators and executive offices matter. We know this. I expect, no matter who runs in 2010, money will pour in from all over to support the candidate whose agenda they like.

If Coleman runs for Governor he will not have an easy time of it. A lot will be thrown at him and some of it may stick. Plus, the field is huge right now. I've lost count of the number of announced candidates. It's almost easier to list who isn't running. Maybe Mitchell Hadley should run?! He's Catholic, he's got some political experience, he's smart, he's articulate, he's unemployed.....

But, seriously, elections matter. We need to pay attention.

It doesn't end with the election. We need to pay attention all the time. What are our elected officials doing? What aren't they doing?

It matters. Wake up.