Point-Counterpoint: Dean Johnson for Senate? Part 2

In our last edition, Joe Bodell and Robin Marty debated the merits of a Dean Johnson Senate run.  You can find the initial installment here, as well as their debate on Al Franken’s potential run here.

Marty: Joe, you have a good point when you say that Amy Klobuchar was able to connect with voters all over the state, regardless of where she was from and ask me if I think Johnson has the same kind of charisma to connect with both Minneapolitans and folks in Bemidji?  I can’t speak about whether I think he has the same charisma – Johnson and Klobuchar are two entirely different candidates who will be working from much different skill sets and backers.  He’s been elected 7 times to the Senate alone, so I’m not terribly worried about his charisma. And I find myself more concerned about how a candidate would appeal to the non-metro than the Minneapolitans, since I find it highly unlikely that the DFL base in the cities would pick a Coleman over a Johnson.  Except maybe Chris Coleman.

more insideMarty continues:As for wondering how a Johnson for Senate campaign can overcome the fact that his moderate Senate District turned him out on his ear this cycle, I think that’s being overplayed by his opponents.  Johnson lost by about 550 votes, hardly a blow out, and as you said it was a very moderate district.  Johnson was targeted by unprecedented attacks in his reelection campaign and still managed to get nearly 50% of the vote.  Once you add in the more populated and progressive leaning urban areas, you have a very winnable campaign. Bodell:  I’m with you on the issue of different skill sets and different backers.  I’ve said many times before that lamenting Paul Wellstone’s death and missing his leadership are one thing, and trying to find “the next Wellstone” is something else altogether and indeed, a damaging trap to fall into.  Every candidate is different, every election is different.  But if Dean Johnson is going into an election with the same old DFL strategy – turnout in the Cities and the Range, keep GOP turnout in the burbs and sticks down – he’ll have a very difficult time winning this race (a la Mike Hatch).  Klobuchar womped Kennedy in CD2 and CD1, and I just can’t see Candidate Johnson connecting with farmers and city-dwellers as well.

We also disagree on the effect of his loss in 2006.  Yes, the Republican machine focused on him at the expense of other races.  Yes, it was a close race.  But the reality of 2008 is that both parties will have a lot more time, staff, and money to throw at the Senate race than they did in 2006.  I can imagine a bunch of Willmars all over the “rural L” abd the suburbs all invoking the same issues as they did this year – sanding off the truth, blah blah blah blah blah.  I don’t think we should pick a candidate based on how we think the Republicans will attack him or her, but in this case I just can’t see Johnson working the DFL base into stiff enough a lather to stand up to the suburban and rural assault with which he’ll be targeted.

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Those are our thoughts on Dean Johnson – Readers, we leave it to you to comment on Johnson and give us suggestions on who to discuss next.  Leave suggestions in the comments!