Campaign Notebook: Third District DFL Debate Tonight

Congressional candidates Terri Bonoff, Jim Hovland and Ashwin Madia will face off Tuesday night at a debate in Minnetonka sponsored by the DFL Progressive Caucus and other organizations. The three candidates, who are vying for the DFL nomination to replace retiring GOP congressman Jim Ramstad, haven’t had a whole lot of time to get on each other’s nerves.

That doesn’t mean they haven’t, however. The debate is expected to focus on foreign policy issues, specifically Iraq, and it’s another area where we could see sparks fly between Bonoff and Madia. Madia, an ex-Marine and Iraq veteran, has attacked Bonoff and been sharply rebuked on tax issues, but he should have an opening to tout his experiences overseas as necessary for congressional leadership on ending the occupation. Bonoff, the frontrunner in the money and super-delegate races, can be expected to play the “big-picture” card, emphasizing her legislative experience on a wide range of issues to assure attendees that she can get this job done. Meanwhile, the Iraq issue should also provide an opening for Hovland, who switched his party affiliation to the DFL in September, to continue proving to DFL activists that he is one of them on bringing troops home as soon as possible. 

The debate will be held at the Hennepin County Ridgedale Library in Minnetonka from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. I’ll be there covering the goings-on, and the UpTake will have a cameraman on the scene. Minnesota Monitor’s Eric Black will moderate, so we’ll be sure to get his take on things after the fact.