Campaign Notebook: Busy Quarter So Far

El Tinklenberg is in for the 6th Congressional District.  Melissa Hortman is out in the 3rd District.  Terri Bonoff may or may not already have raised a considerable amount of money in that race, and Republican Mayor Jim Hovland will become a Democrat to run as well.  Fundraising reports are due soon, and there’s been more than one rumor of a late entry into the DFL Senate field.

Too much 2008 too soon?  Think again. 

The move of Minnesota’s precinct caucuses to February 5th means there isn’t a whole lot of time left in intra-party fights, especially at the congressional level.  There is one fundraising period left in 2007, and that quarter’s FEC reporting deadline is January 15th.  That leaves three weeks until the caucuses, precious few subsequent weeks to organize at the Senate District/BPOU level, and less time than ever to demonstrate momentum to party activists and volunteers. 

This reality may impact candidates like Hovland and Tinklenberg most.  Although Tinklenberg is a somewhat known quantity in the Sixth, Bobs Olson and Hill have already spent a considerable amount of time talking up the party faithful on their appeal as candidates.  Hovland also faces a suddenly steep task — as an outsider to the DFL base community, he will face an uphill battle against a field that has rapidly cleared for State Sen. Terri Bonoff of Minnetonka. 

Observers and listeners will continue to complain about the lengthening of election cycles and the non-stop news cycle.  But for candidates and campaigns, time is already short.