Bonoff still weighing challenge to Rep. Paulsen
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 4:58 pm
- 5 Comments
Terri Bonoff Photo: Wikipedia
Terri Bonoff is not running for Congress — yet. But the Democratic state senator, who lost a tough endorsement battle to Ashwin Madia in 2008, is seriously considering a challenge to freshman Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen.
“I’m certainly not being lighthearted about it,” Bonoff tells the Minnesota Independent. “I love public service and I have a lot of work to do, whether it be for this state or at the national level.”
Opinions vary on how vulnerable Paulsen will be in 2010. The 3rd district doesn’t track decisively red or blue. President Obama won it by six percentage points, while Norm Coleman carried it by eight points over Al Franken. Paulsen surprised political observers by handily winning the open seat last year in what was one of the most closely watched (and heavily funded) congressional races in the country. Bonoff, however, still believes it’s winnable.
“It will depend on the environment and the candidate,” she says. “There is no given.”
No other Democratic challenger has emerged to take on Paulsen. Madia has ruled out another run. State Rep. Steve Simon, whose name has also been floated as a possible candidate, is ruling out a run. “Not me,” he says.
Raising sufficient funds to mount a credible challenge to Paulsen will be difficult. With many Democratic incumbents facing tough reelection fights, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and other national groups will likely pick their takeover targets sparingly. But Bonoff says she doesn’t feel any pressure to make a decision soon.
“The public doesn’t pay attention until a long time from now,” she says. “People find a way to raise enough money regardless of when they get in. I think that’s a false urgency.”
5 Comments
Comment posted August 19, 2009 @ 7:50 pm
Run, Terri, run!
It’s time the Mn 3d was represented by someone other than Republicans. They have drifted so far right that Rush Limbaugh is their most vocal leader. I doubt even Jim Ramstadt could get through Republican party endorsement these days, though basically conservative, since he dared to work with the late Senator Wellstone on mental health insurance issues.
Mr. Paulsen – a decent sort – is right in lock-step with Rush and the right-wing of American politics. And that isn’t going help us fix health care, reign in excesses of Wall Street capitalists, or create good-paying jobs for Americans. After all, those all got worse during Republican control of the White House and Congress.
We need to elect Terri Bonoff from the Mn 3d!
Comment posted August 20, 2009 @ 2:17 am
A lot of independent thought going on here. Hate Bachman over and over and over again, and Paulsen too. But love that Franken and Bonoff. So simplistic and predictable. Are you capable of being intellectually engaged?
Comment posted August 20, 2009 @ 6:28 am
We already have enough AIPAC funded politicians in Minnesota ,we don’t need any more. I would rather see someone like Maria Ruud ,yes I know there is only one Maria but I trust her implicitly and that is a rare quality in a politician. If not Maria then maybe Steve Kelly.
Comment posted August 20, 2009 @ 12:16 pm
Whoever runs will have to raise a lot of money, as the Republican machine will continue to run ads with mis-truths, half-truths, and outright lies against any opponent. It would be better if the DCCC spent it’s money elsewhere, as their ads did no favors for Madia. Considering that Bonoff had already decided to run by this time in 2007, she seems to be taking a more cautious approach this time…Madia didn’t file till late Oct. so there’s at least a couple of months for someone else to consider a run against Paulsen. When you consider that he votes over 90% of the time with his Republican marching orders, he’s hardly a bi-partisian Congressman.
Comment posted August 21, 2009 @ 3:26 pm
Just considering Bonoff’s state senate seat is purple, I’d rather encourage a non-incumbent to challenge Paulsen. Michael mentioned Steve Kelley. If Kelley is from the 3rd, I’d much rather he challenge Paulsen than be one more candidate in the crowded gubernatorial field.
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