Kline-Sarvi debate: Curmudgeonly incumbent v. incoherent challenger

As all the savvy politicians–and even those who’ve been around the block once (like myself) know, the money factor is THE all-important, determinative factor in winning elections. You did not provide the figures for Kline’s fundraising this election season but I’ve heard it’s far below the (nearly) $1.5 million he raised during the prior election cycle and thereafter used to saturate the airwaves prior to the 2006 election.

Significantly, he hasn’t even begun to run any TV ads yet so perhaps, depending upon his campaign funds (and possible lack thereof), he might be more vulnerable than you suppose. I actually don’t know what he’s raised thus far–all I’m saying is that will be the key factor.

Kline IS, however, robo-calling up a storm down here. He and Michelle Bachmann (and some 100 other Republican incumbents) make use of something called the “Tele-Town Hall” (hookup of computer with phone service that dials thousands of district residents simultaneously and then affords the potential for Kline’s push polling, planted questions, etc. all without any main stream media coverage–i.e. there can be no “reality check”.) Unbelievably enough, unlike suspension of the “franking privilege” that is mandated 90 days before an election, the “Tele-Town” seems to be allowed to continue right up to the eve of the election. This allows a pseudo “fiscal conservative” like Kline who says he’s trying to save taxpayers’ money to use their tax money to essentially finance some of his campaign expenses.

Hey Coleen, stick to waving signs on bridges, because a political analyst you are not. There is this wonderful website called fec.gov where you can look up how much money federal candidates have raised. That way, you don’t have to waste two paragraphs writing provably false and asinine “thoughts.” Hey, weren’t you a candidate for Congress? One would have thought you already knew about this site…then again?!?

Anyways, if you had visited this website, you’d have learned that in the 2006 campaign at the Pre-Primary mark, Kline had raised $1.14mm and had $697k coh, where you had raised $435k and had $101k left. This year, at the Pre-Primary Kline had raised $1.18mm and had $651 coh compared to Sarvi’s $328/$105. Therefore, the only thing that has changed is that Sarvi hasn’t raised (or wasted) as much money as you had by this point.

Plus, you should check up on your tele-town hall facts. They fall under regular franking rules. If there is one going on right now, they’re paid for and organized by the campaign.

On the bright side – Paul, you did a really nice job with this story. My only beef is with the use of “preposterously” when referring to Kline’s claim of Oberstar getting more money for bike paths in his district than roads in the 2nd District, because it is the absolute truth. Look up the earmarks for any of the last 6 transportation bills and you’ll see…hence the reason Kline is so fed up with the system.

Finally, here’s that PTSD story that they exchanged shots about: http://www.faribault.com/news.php?viewStory=37682

Maybe debating isn’t Sarvi’s strength, but I imagine that was his first. He’s a decent speechmaker. His personal story should match Kline’s. And folks, we have a shot at sweeping the state’s congressional delegation. That by itself should make the Republicans start dumping all sorts of useless conservative ideology. I know it’s unlikely, but a sweep will mean more than winning all but one. He needs money. http://www.actblue.com/contribute/entity/18566

“Maybe debating isn’t Sarvi’s strength…”

What? The reason debates have long been the centerpiece of American politics is that they are the primary gauge of a candidates preparedness for office. If someone can’t think on their feet well enough to coherently answer questions from Jeff Passolt in front of a crowd of Carver County businessmen, they have no chance of being a successful voice in the halls of Congress. Debates demonstrate depth of knowledge, fluidity of thought, the ability to defend ones beliefs, and political aptitude – all of which are critical skills for successful government leadership, none of which are skills embodied in Steve Sarvi.

As far as Sarvi’s personal story matching Kline’s – HA!!!! Kline was a high-ranking military officer chosen personally by two separate presidents for some of the most prestigious and important positions in the Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam and spent 25 years in a variety of high profile leadership positions. Sarvi is a small town mayor who has served a dozen or so years in the National Guard as an enlisted officer – a very good resume, but nowhere near the same level of prestige as Kline’s.

The reality is that only a small fraction of the electorate will see the debate … largely just the activists and supporters of either of the candidates.

IF Savi loses, it will be the fault of DNCC for not supporting him. The demographics are pointing in the Democrats favor and Kline’s alienating style should boost Sarvi’s prospects. Yet, the Democrats are not funding this campaign. They are spending money in the contested MN-03 and Bachmann’s MN-06, but why not the second? If they wanted to pick a district to contest, it should have been the Second.
This is a big mistake if you consider he ages of Ash and Steve combined with Tim Walz … Democrats could be representing Minnesota for a long time … but the DNCC is blowing it.

I am in the First and I don’t think a week goes by that I don’t get a request for money from Tim Walz’s campaign and he’s got over a million dollars advantage over his challenger. Walz is on TV and the radio, yet I have to ask, wouldn’t Walz serve the First District better with Steve Sarvi in Congress instead of Kline — they have neighboring districts including shared counties.

When redistricting happens and if Bachmann and Kline are reelected, then it will pit an incumbent versus an incumbent when Minnesota loses one Congressional seat. Then Bachmann or Kline will most likely be out.

Minnesota Central raises an interesting question: Why is the DCCC putting money into the Sixth and not the Second? The generic numbers, after all, are more favorable for the Dems in the Second. The Cook Partisan Voting Index has the Second at +3 for the GOP: it’s +5 for the Republicans in the Sixth.

But I also think the answer is quite simple: money and polling. Both Sarvi and Tinklenberg were added to the DCCC’s list of emerging races over the summer. Tinklenberg subsequently raised a boatload of cash down the stretch run and made it just over the magic million dollar mark at the end of the third quarter. Sarvi came nowhere near this amount. Secondly, no polling from the DCCC has been released for the Second or Sixth (at least that I’m aware of), but their internal numbers must be showing that Tinklenberg has a viable shot at knocking off Bachmann.

Dear Moussaoui:

You’ve picked a strange screen name for a political analyst and/or for a Kline supporter. But guess there’s reasons the secrecy appeals to you.

You’re right, I’m certainly not one (a political analyst). That’s obvious from the fact that I hadn’t bothered to check out Kline’s money. As long as you’re doing this work for us tho’, why don’t you let us know how much of Kline’s million$ plus comes from the various PACs and special interest groups?

Kline is robo-calling at this time because people down here are getting the calls. The reason I assumed they were under that “Tele-Town Hall” taxpayer financed system, is he DID operate that way during the summer of 2006. In fact he and a half dozen other Republicans pioneered the “Tele-Town Hall” robo-calling that summer, right up to the election. So perhaps if the “franking privilege” blackout rules have finally been instituted, it’s because of Kline’s past abuses? Just a question. I don’t know the answer because I’m not a political analyst as you seem to be.

I wasn’t a good politician either because I wasn’t good at conniving the millions of dollars it takes to win. The big money, in my opinion, is a form of influence buying-peddling and part of Washington’s culture of corruption that more and more regular citizens are feeling mistrustful and alienated from. Just look at the polls showing the public’s dismal approval levels of Congress. The money and influence buying is simply not a good thing. It’s probably why the politicians always vote to bail out Wall Street instead of Main Street. Money matters. White collar crime investigators in the FBI solve many cases through application of one simple principle: “Follow the money”.

Political analysts make money off the system so they don’t like to tell the truth about it either. Last election cycle, somewhere between 5 and 6 million dollars was spent on the 6th District’s congressional race–setting a new Minnesota record–and what emerged from all that money spent (wasted)? Michelle Bachmann. I rest my case.

If you had any guts, Mr. Moussaoui, to tell us your real name and come out in the public, I’d love to debate you on the issue of the need for campaign finance reform and special interest corruption.

Having met and spent time in conversation with both Mr. Kline and Mr. Sarvi, I have to admit that Mr. Kline is quicker on the comeback to a question. Part of that seems to be because Mr. Sarvi thinks about what he is going to say before he says it, as opposed to simply offering up a rehearsed csound bite. If, as Marc E seems to state above, the primary guage of a candidate’s preparedness for office is their ability to respond to questions without thinking, then Mr. Kline would appear to have an advantage.

On paper Sarvi looks like a great candidate – Iraq War vet, extensive local government experience, regular guy, family man. In pracice he has not been able to articulate what his positions are and why they should be embraced by the 2nd district voter. His personal charisma is really lacking. The DFL put out a list of questions voters should ask John Kline in the debate. Sarvi could have and should have used those as part of his talking points. I listened to the debate and I kept thinking “When is Sarvi going to hold Kline accountable for his record?” That being said, Sarvi would be a tremendous improvement in Congress from Mr. Lockstep Bush so I support him and hope he benefits from the Obama coattails. The saddest thing in CD2 is that we are represented by someone FAR to the right of the demographic and yet we can’t get a really stellar candidate to come forward.