Gov. Carlson backs Horner as Strib shows support for IP candidate
Monday, September 13, 2010 at 8:34 am
- 12 Comments
Tom Horner
Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner got a double dose of good news over the weekend. The Star Tribune’s editorial board wrote a glowing opinion of Horner’s candidacy, and though it stopped short of endorsing him, the paper left little to the imagination as to who the paper will pick for Nov. 2. Then, this morning, former Gov. Arne Carlson endorsed Horner’s candidacy.
“Independence Party candidate Tom Horner ranks as a serious contender, and he deserves full consideration by Minnesotans who in more ordinary times might not look at a third-party candidate,” the Strib’s editorial board wrote. “That’s especially true of those who value a more centrist, pragmatic approach to governing than has so far been offered up by the GOP and DFL candidates.”
The paper says that the GOP’s Tom Emmer is too far to the right and the DFL’s Mark Dayton is too far to the left.
On the paper’s news side, reporter Baird Helgeson notes that some business leaders who would have backed a GOP candidate in the past are lining up behind Horner. As Helgeson notes, many who would have ordinarily backed Emmer — and who backed Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s two runs for the office — are finding Emmer too extreme or are concerned about his lack of details in addressing Minnesota’s massive budget deficit.
“For the first time in my life, I have not blindly supported the Republican candidate for governor,” said Tom Merickel, a vice president with Taylor Corp. told the Star Tribune. “There’s nothing wrong with electing the most qualified person to be governor. If it means stepping away, momentarily, from the Republican Party, then so be it.”
MinnPost’s Doug Grow notes that the paper didn’t know until the last minute that both pieces would appear in the paper at the same time because of the separation between news and opinion parts of the paper.
Monday morning brought news that Carlson, who governed as a Republican, is throwing his weight behind Horner. The duo will travel to St. Cloud, Rochester and St. Paul today to spread the announcement Carlson first made on KARE-11 Sunrise. He believes Horner is the best candidate to help the state out of its economic woes and said the state’s deficit is the result of years of bad fiscal mismanagement in Minnesota government.
“If you believe, as I do, that our problems are too large and the other candidates too extreme to be trusted with the future of the state, this election demands we take another path,” Carlson said in a statement.
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter12 Comments
Comment posted September 13, 2010 @ 9:29 am
The opinion of the Strib is no longer relevant. This once proud-moderate paper has since turned conservative in recent years, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they endorsed Horner or Emmer.
To repair the state from the terrible reign of Pawlenty, we need to look to a candidate who will make the hard decisions and not play politics while in office. That leaves us one quality candidate, Mark Dayton. He’s been very honest with the press & has been public with his plans for the state from the get-go…something that Horner & Emmer have still failed to do.
Comment posted September 13, 2010 @ 9:43 am
In an America run by the hard-right, being labeled “America’s Worst Senator” should be seen as a badge of honor; fighting for your constituents instead of the moneyed interests is something to always be proud of.
Comment posted September 13, 2010 @ 11:23 am
Carlson not supporting Republican.
What is the next shock headline -
Union supports Dayton.
Comment posted September 13, 2010 @ 11:36 am
At least with Emmer conservative Minnesotans don’t have to worry that he’ll be supporting leftists after his terms are over.
Comment posted September 13, 2010 @ 6:34 pm
So … Fox News is Republican, MSNBC is Democratic, and the StarTribune, having supported Democrats and Republicans lately, are now the voice of the Independence party.
At least with the affiliations out in the open, we can read with a grain or two salt cautioning us
Comment posted September 13, 2010 @ 6:48 pm
Dayton must be disappointed.
But seriously, this is all about getting Horner’s poll numbers up so it’ll be easier for the liberal Dayton to win with the republican vote split.
It won’t work.
Comment posted September 13, 2010 @ 6:50 pm
Uh, Katie … “moneyed interests?”
Dayton is the rich guy in this race.
Comment posted September 13, 2010 @ 8:42 pm
From Horner’s site: “On the revenue side, tax increases alone aren’t the answer.”
Despite (and because of) traitor Carlson’s endorsement Horner will probably split the liberal vote.
Comment posted September 14, 2010 @ 1:45 pm
The Strib needs to declare their articles as in kind contributions to the Horner campaign
Comment posted September 14, 2010 @ 4:35 pm
Arne Carlson is the one good Republican still visible in Minnesota politics.
Emmer is too extreme. He would turn our beautiful state into another theocratic red-state slum. The budget cannot be balanced simply by cutting spending, cutting revenues, and shifting tax burdens to other units of government.
Dayton is a bit more fond of taxing the rich than I am, but at least we would survive with the spirit and soul of the state intact.
I wrote off Horner because of his support for more gambling as a tax revenue enhancer. But if Arne says he is worth a look, I am willing to give him a second look.
Comment posted September 14, 2010 @ 6:59 pm
Score one for the split liberal vote. Thanks Arnie, still think you’re a jerk.
Comment posted September 16, 2010 @ 8:51 pm
Not to worry, Jimmy. My priority is still keeping Emmer out of office. He’s just too extreme.
After Franken, I’m not taking any chances.
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