MnIndy Money Map by PSOn a recent Tuesday afternoon roughly three dozen Democratic activists and donors gathered in the 52nd-floor office of Vance Opperman in downtown Minneapolis. Opperman, the founder of Key Investment, director of TCF Financial and a longtime DFL rainmaker, was joined by some of the biggest Democratic political givers in the state. Kelly Doran, a real-estate developer and former gubernatorial candidate, who gave more than $40,000 to Democratic candidates and causes during the 2008 election cycle, was present. As was Alida Messinger, a Rockefeller heir and veteran Democratic contributor.

The well-heeled donors were joined by representatives from labor unions, Native American tribes and progressive policy groups. Shar Knutson, the newly elected president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO was on hand, as was Sarah Stoesz, president of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. There were also representatives from Education Minnesota, AFSCME and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

The impetus for this gathering: ending the Democrats’ more than two-decade drought in gubernatorial contests and forming a new political-action committee designed to raise money and have a major impact on the outcome of the race.

Opperman didn’t return a phone call seeking comment, and most other people who attended the meeting either declined to discuss the details or didn’t respond to calls seeking comment. “I don’t know that I feel real comfortable talking too much about it,” says Doran, in a typical response.

The organization responsible for putting the event together is Win Minnesota. The nonprofit organization has existed for several years, but the establishment of the political-action committee is a new development.

Ken Martin has been brought on as the organization’s executive director. He’s no stranger to electoral politics. In 2006 he served as campaign manager for DFL gubernatorial nominee Mike Hatch. Two years earlier he ran John Kerry’s presidential campaign in Minnesota.

“There’s nothing too mysterious about what we do here,” says Martin. “Our focus is on building a permanent progressive infrastructure that exists beyond campaigns and elections.”

Martin declined to get into the specifics of the meeting at Opperman’s office. But according to one person who attended the gathering the initial goal is to raise $2 million to bankroll what’s being billed as The 2010 Fund. The labor unions, Native American tribes and policy groups were each asked to come up with at least $50,000 initially. That money would then be matched by individual donors.

“Pooling our resources will allow us to do more and with little to no duplication,” reads a description of the fund that was handed out to attendees.

The document, a copy of which was obtained by Minnesota Independent, also describes the obstacles facing Democrats in 2010, including a crowded primary field and the possibility of a strong Independence Party candidate. There are currently 11 Democrats who have filed to run for the post.

“A competitive endorsement and primary contest will (1) drain our candidate of money (2) focus the conversation away from the general election voters and, (3) allow the GOP and IP candidates a free ride thru the spring and summer of 2010,” the document notes.

The establishment of the political fund more than a year before the gubernatorial contest is another sign that Democrats are serious about winning the state’s top office for the first time since 1986.

The stakes in the 2010 contest are even higher than usual because of the looming census. With Democrats already carrying large majorities in the state House and Senate, a win in the gubernatorial contest would essentially mean that they would control the redistricting process that follows the census. Current projections show Minnesota losing one of its congressional seats.

In some ways the Win Minnesota effort will serve as a counterbalance to the ReNew Minnesota campaign being spearheaded by TakeAction Minnesota. While the latter effort is geared around grassroots organizing and ensuring that the eventual DFL nominee embraces a liberal policy platform, the Win Minnesota program will likely rely more on large amounts of cash and paid media.