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Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Monday that he dropped his presidential bid too early and that his campaign put too much focus on Iowa.

Pawlenty announced the end of his campaign in August. MPR’s reporting confirms earlier speculation that his campaign was out of money and in debt.

“We made some decisions that I think with the benefit of hindsight I would have done differently. I think if we had it to do over again, we would have probably metered out our resources lighter earlier so we could have made them last longer,” Pawlenty said. “Instead, we went for a more dramatic piece of progress in that early Iowa contest, and I think we should have made a different decision.”

Pawlenty invested much of his energy an attempt to win the Iowa Straw Poll, but nevertheless placed third.

He also told the Star Tribune that he regretted blowing all his money on the race in Iowa, which is generally considered to be more friendly to conservative candidates. In an on-air interview at MPR Tuesday, Pawlenty said consultants urged him to throw “red meat” issues to voters, but that his personality is more Midwestern.

Pawlenty has endorsed Mitt Romney for the GOP nomination and is scheduled to host a Twin Cities fundraiser for the former Massachusetts governor next month.

Editor’s note: Throughout each presidential campaign and caucus, our sister site, the Iowa Independent, asks an array of pundits, campaign workers and scholars to prognosticate on the changing prospects for caucus hopefuls. The newest edition of the 2012 Power Rankings is the last before the famed Ames Straw Poll:

With only a few weeks to go before several 2012 candidates face off in the Ames Straw Poll, the world is about to see who has best balanced the game of Hawkeye State momentum and expectations.

These opinions and predictions have been culled from our staff members, additional state political reporters, party activists, academics, elected officials, political consultants and other insiders. While unscientific, the ranks provide insights that cannot be garnered in traditional polling or from any one pundit as to a candidate’s organizational strength in Iowa.

For our ninth edition of Power Rankings (and our last in advance of the Ames Straw Poll), here’s how we think the 2012 caucuses would end if they were held tonight:

1. Michele Bachmann — As one of our panelists put it, the Congresswoman from Minnesota “is accelerating in popularity faster than Huck did four years ago.”As the panelists noted in our last edition, Bachmann has the momentum. What remains to be seen is whether or not she can beat, or at least match, expectations during the straw poll.

   “The story about her migraines is the first example of others from within her party taking a swipe in an attempt to slow her momentum. The GOP establishment, which has been well-documented in its attempt to secure other candidates for the 2012 race, has to be downright scared about her trajectory. But, there is a reason you don’t hear about her going out of way to recruit straw poll attendees: She already got a whole swarm of them.”

   Much of the leaked information over the past two weeks that had the potential to stain or slow Bachmann’s rise to the top of the 2012 field wasn’t viewed favorably by our panelists and, more importantly, seems to have landed quite far from its mark.

   “Low blows on ‘migraines’ and ‘menopause’ have backfired and her support is both growing and firming,” noted a panelist.

   Another added, “Bachmann still has the buzz,” while pointing out that her ground work ethic in Iowa must be strained as she also tries to stay on top of her ongoing congressional duties and the high-profile national debate over the debt limit. “Missing votes would subject her to immediate criticism.”

   Yet, several of our panelists see her better positioned to compete in a caucus contest than in the upcoming straw poll, which could spell trouble if Bachmann does not have a good showing in Ames.

   “There are expectations for her to do well, and she has to come close to those levels of support. If she does not, portions of her base will begin to question their support in light of the general election, while national pundits will begin the ‘she-peaked-too-early” story lines.”

   “If the Straw Poll were after Labor Day she might lap the field, but with the Straw Poll three weeks away she’s in danger of stubbing her toe there unless her campaign does a lot of things right. It will be interesting to see what happens to her prospects if indeed that happens. But for now there is little doubt she is setting the pace.”

   “Her slight lead over Romney in the poll this period caused many to suggest that the straw poll and the caucuses are hers to lose. Of course, if she doesn’t win the straw poll it could substantially hurt her chances in the caucuses.”

   Even if she meets expectations in Ames, however, things are not all smooth-sailing until caucus night.

   “It’s passion that motivates activists to attend the caucus, and Bachmann is the candidate currently generating the most passion among the social conservatives that dominate caucus attendance. Her support is very fluid, however, as activists question whether she can actually defeat Barack Obama.”

2. Ron Paul — The Texas Congressman, who has made control of government spending a cornerstone, rises mostly on doubts that Bachmann could falter, but also in acknowledgment that he is most likely to get a boost from the upcoming straw poll.”The ‘Revolution’ is growing. Congressman Paul’s commitment to drastically shrinking government makes him a magnet for the many Republicans who are increasingly convinced that the country is badly broken and institutional Republicans are part of the problem not part of the solution.”

   Another panelist agrees and takes statement a step further. “Even caucus-goers who don’t have substantive differences with Bachmann are getting turned off by persistent negative press. If Rick Perry doesn’t get in the race, Paul stands to gain the most from a few Bachmann supporters jumping ship.”

   But as 2008 Romney supporters know all too well, a great straw poll exit, which can to some extent be purchased, does not always translate to a caucus night victory, which is built more on true grassroots motivators.

   Paul is “about to be in Straw Poll heaven. But this is Iowa, and he’ll need a statewide organization to really do well in the caucuses, which he won’t have and won’t do, respectively.”

   “I definitely think Ron Paul can win the Straw Poll, because he’s got the most devoted following of any other candidate. Pawlenty has the best organization, and Bachmann the most supporters. But Paul has the most adamant supporters, and in a fluid situation that might be enough to sneak out a Straw Poll win. However, Paul has lost a chance to make significant inroads to Iowa’s massive Christian Conservative base, so I don’t believe he can win the Iowa Caucuses.”

   “Paul has both passionate supporters and experienced organizers — but too many activists question whether he’d be effective against President Obama to put him in the top spot.”

   “Paul started running ads in Iowa and he’s gotten some national attention given his positions on the debt ceiling. As before, however, Paul doesn’t really seem to be gaining any supporters. He supporters are loyal and will turnout, so he should be in the top five.”

3. Mitt Romney — The former Massachusetts governor was passed an olive branch over the weekend by the Iowa GOP State Central Committee when his campaign, which did not bid on space at the Ames Straw Poll, was still allowed to appear on the ballot. Since he has said he has no intention of directly competing in Iowa, the expectations are already low, but not non-existent.In 2008 Romney swept the straw poll and placed second in the state on caucus night. That’s significant, and can’t be dithered out of the conversation when discussing his prospects in 2012. He has to perform — at least wind up in the top three from the Ames Straw Poll, or he will risk losing some of the supporters he’s been able to maintain since his earlier bid.”

   “Aside from not putting much effort into Iowa so far, Romney seems to be keeping a generally low profile. The strategy may be to allow the other candidates to knock each other out (somewhat like how McCain ended up with the Republican nomination in 2008). It also keeps Romney from making early missteps. Either way, it may serve him relatively well for the time being, but it’s not likely to work all that well as the caucuses get closer.”

   “As I have said all along, Romney has a locked-in, almost cult-like base of support that can’t be dissuaded no matter what. That percentage is somewhere in the 12-15%. However, like Paul he has a very low ceiling, and can’t do any better than the 25% he got here four years ago. However, if Perry and Palin are both in the race, Romney’s 2008 total might be enough to win the Iowa Caucuses in a balkanized field.”

   “Mitt gets twenty percent. The aforesaid institutional Republicans love the guy. He looks the part and sounds the part and that’s enough for some. Mitt’s commitment to the liberal use of government to limit choices and coerce behavior is very attractive to Republicans who want something from government.”

4. Tim Pawlenty — Significantly slipping in our Power Rankings for this edition is the former Minnesota governor. Since March, Pawlenty has consistently appeared in our top three, mostly on the premise that he was surrounding himself with some of the best political staffers in the state and that he could only benefit from their expertise. The panelists, somewhat dismayed by lack of evidence of his campaign gaining traction, point the the straw poll as one of the last remaining hopes Pawlenty has for creating a real buzz.”He continues to rank high due to work ethic and his impressive organizational staff. However, if he fails to win the straw poll, he’ll be forced to constantly answer questions about the viability of his campaign and that might sink him.”

   “This week he stole ABC Sports footage to invoke a sports event universally associated with the word “miracle.” In July before a February caucus! He better believe in miracles! He’s not toast yet, but he’s in that stage where you know the slices should have popped up by now and you go look in the toaster to check that everything is alright.”

   “There is a sense on the ground from most people I talk to that Bachmann’s campaign is behind in mobilizing for its candidate, but Pawlenty’s campaign is way ahead of their candidate. I can’t foresee a scenario where Tim Pawlenty wins the Iowa Caucuses, because if he way out-performs his polling data in the Straw Poll to win it, the conservative outcry for a rock star like Rick Perry or Sarah Palin will become deafening and Bachmann will definitely be weakened. Anything less than a victory in the Straw Poll and it’s difficult for Pawlenty to justify sticking around. He will definitely out-perform his meager polling on August 13th, the only question is to what extent.”

   “Pawlenty had a so-so two weeks. He handled The Family Leader pledge well, but made a misstep with his initial comment on Bachmann’s migraines. He won a Dallas County straw poll by a huge margin (70% over Romney’s 17% and the rest less), but he’s also been downplaying his possible performance at the straw poll. Pawlenty still has the best organization and he does well in the many townhall events that he’s held. The straw poll will be an important test to see whether that good organization getting the results it needs to.”

   And, finally, one panelist gives what might be the final word on Pawlenty’s Commander in Chief hopes: “Oh yeah, Tim Pawlenty is still in the race.”

5. Rick Perry — The Texas governor may not be a full-fledged candidate for 2012, but he ranks high enough interest among our panelists to place him at the bottom of our top five.”He’s getting in and already has developed strong support as the ‘anti-Romney.’ While Rick could be the Fred Thompson of 2007, he could also be a Texas sized bull that horns Mitt back to Bain Capital.”

   “Most seem to think that [Perry] will declare his candidacy, the only question is when. Perry’s name won’t appear on the straw poll ballot (Palin’s will also be excluded), but that might not stop people from writing in his name. If he actually declares before the straw poll, or seems about to, it could generate enough buzz to allow him to pull ahead of several other candidates.”

   Perry’s slow start reminded some of our panelists of how former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee handled the 2008 contest, and several believe “there’s something to it.” Getting in the race a little later, after opponents have already roughed each other up, could have its merits, but there are also drawbacks in caucus states like Iowa where ground work and retail politics are essential. His team of unofficial merry men and women have set up a headquarters and have begun to beat the ground on his behalf, but only a candidate can come to Iowa and look caucus-goers in the eye.

   “When Rick Perry gets into the race, he will immediately become a contender to finish first in Iowa. Social conservatives will be drawn to his unapologetic conservatism combined with a charisma that even his political enemies acknowledge. Michele Bachmann’s biggest vulnerability lies in the fact that many activists who are tentatively supporting her currently are questioning whether she can actually win the presidency. Those supporters will flock to Perry when he enters the race.”

In general, our Power Rankings thus far have shown that there are strong contenders for a caucus victory, but also that there is a restlessness among GOP activists in Iowa. In general we’ve seen the same three candidates — Bachmann, Pawlenty and Romney — floating in or close to the top three in edition after edition. But we’ve also seen a flow of candidate options that have waved up and down in the rankings.

The only way to understand it is to acknowledge that many Iowa Republicans aren’t 100 percent behind a certain candidate, and that they remain on the lookout for that one person who can fire up the base, do well in a general election contest against President Barack Obama, and appeal to the kitchen table issues at the fore-front of the American attention span.

“In many ways, this feels like 2008 all over again in that I don’t see my party ending up with a candidate due to a consensus of excitement or pride or confidence. I see us having this incredibly wide field that slugs it out through Iowa and New Hampshire. Iowans will pick the most social conservative candidate they can. Voters in the Granite State will lean toward fiscal candidates. The nation will once again get a candidate that isn’t enough of either to truly excite anyone.”

“When you go to an event being hosted by a social conservative group, you’ll hear the names of several of the more social conservative candidates. Go the next day to a 2nd Amendment event or a tea party function and you’ll hear the other names. But try to get any of those people to give you the name of the candidate they’ll be supporting come caucus night and they can’t do it. Minds aren’t made up here in Iowa — and nobody seems whole-heartedly pleased with the choices.”

“I don’t see Iowans running around with their dance cards filled, just trying to determine what order they will be in. What I do see are half-filled dance cards and a lot of hope for more dancing partners.”

The New York Times came down hard on Minnesota Republicans in an editorial in today’s paper saying their “antitax radicalism” is “doing enormous damage at all levels.”

It is preventing Wilmington, N.C., from buying a new fire truck, preventing the most vulnerable in dozens of states from receiving subsistence benefits, and may soon engulf the economy if the standoff in Washington does not end. In Minnesota, there is now a chance to draw a line and say, no further.

The editorial argues that Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton must not completely yield to Republicans over budget issues, despite the hardship inflicted on the state by the shutdown.

Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, campaigned for office last year promising to raise taxes on high earners, so it was no surprise when he proposed a tax increase on families making more than $150,000 a year to help close a $5 billion budget gap. In negotiations with the Republican majority in the Legislature, he compromised and reduced the increase to those making $1 million or more, but Republicans are refusing to consider any income tax increase.

Gov. Mark Dayton, who is currently negotiating with state Republicans, has already moved towards Republican positions by limiting a tax increase on the very wealthy only to those who make more than $1 million.

A piece today at MinnPost implies that Dayton is growing more willing to discard his proposed tax increase to end the shutdown, describing Republicans as an “unyielding uni-voice” whose leadership hasn’t shown any flexibility on the issue of taxes.

Senate Republicans sent a letter to Gov. Mark Dayton Thursday stating that all 37 members of the GOP caucus have taken a “no-tax pledge” in response to the governor’s proposed budget which would increases taxes for the wealthiest Minnesotans. Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk responded with a letter of his own questioning the pledge and its implications, while Dayton told the GOP to stop “the game-playing” and come up with a budget of their own.

“We write to make perfectly clear… that we all are opposed to raising taxes to balance the 2012-2013 $6.2 billion deficit,” the 37 GOP senators wrote. “We are all opposed to your budget that increases state spending by 22 percent.”

They added, “We do not have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem.”

Bakk, in a letter to Majority Leader Amy Koch “questioned the wisdom of staking out a narrowly-focused position this early in the budget process” and asked the GOP for specifics on their no-tax pledge.

Do all 37 members of your caucus commit to opposing cuts to Local Government Aid , which the Department of Revenue has stated will increase property taxes on Minnesotans?

Do all 37 members of your caucus agree with Rep. Davids, the House Tax Chair, that ending specific tax breaks would represent a tax increase?

Does your pledge prohibit your caucus from exploring any sort of tax reform that involves broadening a tax’s base to lower its overall rate?

Do all 37 members of your caucus oppose any effort to create or extend local option sales tax in Minnesota communities, such as the proposals introduced by Sen. Hoffman, Sen. Miller, Sen. Dahms and Sen. Newman?

In a conference call with reporters, Dayton took a shot at Republicans who have not developed a budget.

“They continue to be in denial over the direct impact of decisions made in St. Paul on property tax increases,” said Dayton. “The time for this rhetorical game playing is over. I’ve submitted by budget, and now it’s their responsibility to develop their budget. Where is their budget?”

The GOP’s letter and Bakk’s letter are below:

49500970-GovDaytonLetter02242011

Feb24_Ltr

Rep. Michele Bachmann will head to Helena, Mont., in early February to raise funds for the local Republican party. The trip comes on the heels of a trip to Iowa that has fueled speculation that Bachmann will throw her hat in the ring for the 2012 GOP nomination for president. Bachmann will also be headlining the anti-abortion Rose Dinner next week.

Bachmann will be speaking at the Lewis and Clark Lincoln-Reagan dinner in Helena on Feb. 5 with Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg.

“Congresswoman Bachmann is a leading voice for conservative Republicans. She is in great demand for speaking engagements throughout the country. We are very fortunate Michele Bachmann will be our guest in Montana’s capital city and are grateful for Congressman Rehberg’s assistance in making this possible,” Lewis and Clark County Republican Central Committee chair Bridget Holland told Politico.

For $75, guests will be treated to Bachmann’s presence as well as their choice of prime rib, halibut or chicken Caesar salad.

A week earlier, on Jan. 24, Bachmann will be the keynote speaker at the 2011 Rose Dinner, which is the “culminating event of three days of pro-life activities in our nation’s capitol.”

According to the event press release, “Congresswoman Bachmann has distinguished herself as a pro-life leader in Congress, as attested to by her rating of 0 from the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL). First elected in 2006, Congresswoman Bachmann has developed a reputation as a ‘principled reformer’ who stays true to her conservative beliefs while pushing for real reform of the broken ways of Washington.”

The Republican Party of Minnesota still owes counties for a massive document request leading up to the recent election recount, according to the Mankato Free Press. For the past several weeks, more than a dozen counties have been wondering if they’ll get paid for hundred of thousands of documents that were requested by the GOP on behalf of the gubernatorial campaign of Republican Tom Emmer. Those counties were threatened with lawsuits if they didn’t comply with the GOP’s requests for election documents.

“They just insisted they had to have the machine tapes right away,” Patty O’Connor, Blue Earth County elections director, told the Free Press.

“I sent bills for $800, of which Dayton paid and Emmer did not. I have requested at least three times, where’s my payment, and they’ve responded to nothing.”

Two weeks ago, southern Minnesota counties complained that they weren’t being paid after they assembled election documents under threat of lawsuit by the GOP.

GOP chair Tony Sutton, in an early November statement complaining that counties were not responding quickly enough to the party’s request, said, “We will continue to pursue any counties that do not promptly meet their legal obligations during this process. Minnesotans deserve better.”

Bridgette Kennedy, Nicollet County Auditor, told KEYC-TV back on Dec. 1, “Not that I relish the thought of completing the task and getting all the copies made, but I would feel horrible if the taxpayer dollars have been used fruitlessly with having 10,000 copies sitting here.”

The GOP told KEYC that they were looking into it. But as the Free Press reports, the counties haven’t heard a word from the GOP on whether or not they will get paid.

According to the Federal Elections Commission, the Republican Party of Minnesota faces a debt of $621,116 as of Nov. 22.

In a petition filed by the Republican Party of Minnesota and Tom Emmer’s gubernatorial campaign with the Minnesota Supreme Court, election judges from around the state submitted affidavits stating that reconciliation between registered voters and ballots cast was not done correctly in their precincts. The GOP said improper record keeping on election night resulted in thousands of “phantom votes” while the Dayton campaign called the complaint a delay tactic. The vast majority of the witnesses in the complaint are Republican activists or are connected to the tea party movement.

Joel Burns, listed in the complaint as a GOP witness, was chair of the campaign of Republican Deanna Boss who ran for the state House in Minneapolis’ district 62B, according to campaign filings. Boss is a co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots of the Twin Cities.

John Larkin is another witness for the GOP with connections to the tea party movement: He founded the tea party group The 56 Club, which is based in Eagan.

Glydewell Burdick co-chairs the Senate District 44 Republicans in the Golden Valley area and is on the Republican Party of Minnesota Health Care Coalition.

Another witness for the GOP serves on that health care coalition is Diana Bratlie, the recipient of the Elephant Remembers award at the 2nd Congressional District Ronald Reagan Dinner in 2007 and a paid researcher for Rep. John Kline’s re-election campaign in 2008. The UpTake published a story on Thursday questioning Bratlie’s truthfulness.

She was also a delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention.

Albin Dittli of Minneapolis attended a state GOP convention in 2005.

Several of the witnesses in the GOP petition to the Supreme Court are GOP donors. John Carney was a financial donor to Mark Kennedy’s unsuccessful campaign against Amy Klobuchar in 2006. Betty Walton’s husband donated to the Emmer campaign for governor multiple times in recent months according to Emmer’ campaign finance reports.

And several of the witnesses in Bloomington share a connection with a Republican candidate. Barbara Sutter is the treasurer for the Pat Mazorol Volunteer Committee and was paid by Mazorol’s successful campaign against one-term DFL Rep. Paul Rosenthal in the Edina-Bloomington area.

Financing that campaign was fellow witness Theresa Jacobson. Jacobson and her husband gave money to Mazorol’s campaign this summer, according to campaign finance documents.

Only two of the GOP’s witnesses seemed to have no connection to the GOP on paper: Jill Ingvalson and Tim Reisdorf.

“What this does is enhance the suspicion that this is really based on political factors,” said Prof. David Schultz of Hamline University. “From a legal point of view, it suggests the petition doesn’t have much merit.”

He added that the petition to the Supreme Court is on shaky legal ground as it is. He cited the legal concept of exhaustion of administrative remedies, which means the GOP should take its complaint to the proper government units before a court will hear their case. The Supreme Court may reject the petition under that rationale, he said.

Schultz said the timing of the petition as well as the GOP’s allegations of fraud create the appearance that the GOP is gearing up for a bigger lawsuit.

“I think they are trying to establish doubt over the election results that could lead up to a lawsuit once the recount has concluded,” he said. “They seem to be building an ideological case for a court challenge after December.”

“This incident is symptomatic of a larger illness: the widespread sexism and objectification of women in politics,” writes WMC president Jehmu Greene. “Though the video clearly prefers Republican women over Democratic women, it does a disservice to women across the political spectrum by evaluating them solely based on their appearances rather than on their merits or platforms.”

Noting that the video has already been removed from the site, she calls for a public apology by the party. She continues: “Furthermore, the Women’s Media Center urges all political parties to take this opportunity to pledge to avoid in similar sexist attacks, and encourages media to continue to actively fight them in the future.”

SD56 GOP chair Joe Salmon tweeted yesterday, presumably about the incident, which is being reported nationally by Gawker, Mother Jones, The Hollywood Reporter and others, as well as local papers like the Stillwater Gazette today. “It really unfortunate [sic] to relearn that the other side is severely lacking a sense of humor,” he wrote.

SD56 chair Joe Salmon's Aug. 17 tweet

But it’s not only the “other side” that thought the video crossed the line. The only women endorsed by the GOP for District 56 races reacted negatively.

Kathy Lohmer, who’s running for the state House seat in 56A, said she doesn’t “want to be connected in any way to that type of behavior,” and told the Minnesota Independent she’d be asking for the resignation of the SD56 webmaster. Andrea Kieffer, GOP-endorsed House candidate for 56B, said she doesn’t condone the video and asked for its removal from the site, calling it a “juvenile attempt at ‘marketing.”

Like SD56 Chair Salmon, the site’s webmaster, Randy Brown, suggested women and offended Democrats should lighten up.

“I do realize that there are groups of people who lack such capability [for humor], but fortunately that is their problem,” said Brown, who posted the video. “…Is it fair? Does that matter? It wasn’t intended to be fair. It was intended to be funny.”

Update: Rachel Rose Hartment at Yahoo’s The Upshot reports that WMC isn’t alone in calling for an apology. DFL party chair Brian Melendez:

“This video is sexist and offensive. Just what kind of ridiculous point were the Republicans trying to make with this video? I call on SD56 Chair Joe Salmon and State GOP Chair Tony Sutton to apologize for this sexist video. The day when a woman was judged by her looks rather than her competence and intelligence should have passed three generations ago. But apparently Republican leaders in the year 2010 still think of that bygone era as the good old days, and want to bring it back.”

Now EMILY’s List, the national women’s political group, is weighing in, linking the district GOP’s use of the video with state and national politics:

“If Republicans in Minnesota, like Michele Bachmann and Tom Emmer, and national leaders like Sarah Palin – who has endorsed both of those candidates and predicted a ‘rising tide’ of women voters this cycle – think that this disgusting video is an acceptable way to treat women and women leaders in the state and across the country then their silence will speak volumes. However, if they believe as we do, that women voters and women in office deserve to be respected, then they should join EMILY’s List in denouncing this video.”

Bachmann is the only Minnesota politician featured in the video.

Janet Napolitano, dubbed "Dumbass of the Year" in a video featured by the SD56 GOP.

The male webmaster of the official website for the Senate District 56 Republicans says a video comparing the attractiveness of Democratic and Republican women is just a joke. Serenaded by Tom Jones, the GOP women are depicted in bikinis and gowns, while those identified as Democrats — Helen Thomas, Rosie O’Donnell and Michele Obama, among others — are represented in unflattering photos accompanied by the song “Who Let the Dogs Out?” The video, which wasn’t produced by the local GOP, “had only one purpose, humor,” writes SD56 webmaster Randy Brown via email.

A person who seems to think he missed the mark: One of the two female district Republicans endorsed by the party.

“I do realize that there are groups of people who lack such capability [for humor], but fortunately that is their problem,” wrote Brown, who posted the video. “Again its only intention was to bring a smile to a few peoples faces, and possibly irritate a few others.  Is it fair? Does that matter? It wasn’t intended to be fair. It was intended to be funny.”

“I am not an official with the republican [sic] party (other than being a local delegate) and my association with the GOP SD56 website is that of webmaster,” he continued. “I frequently post things that I find interesting or humorous in an attempt to draw new viewers to the sight [sic].”

Andrea Kieffer, the GOP-endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House in District 56B, says she doesn’t support the video, which she called a “juvenile attempt at ‘marketing.” She emphasizes that she has no involvement with the video, which was posted to YouTube by user factsarestubbornthin on May 5 of this year.

“This is not something I would condone, and I am sending a request that the webmaster take it down immediately,” she wrote. Brown has not yet replied to MnIndy’s query about whether he would comply.

The video shows a Photoshopped image of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi grabbing her crotch, a photo calling Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano “Dumbass of the Year,” and a faux Time cover featuring former Attorney General Janet Reno as “Man of the Year.”

The district GOP’s site includes a statement of principles, including the stated belief that “the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.”

The Minnesota Independent has also contacted Kathly Lohmer, the only other GOP-endorsed woman in the district, and is awaiting her comment on the video.

Update: The video has been removed. Here’s a screengrab of it in place.

Update: GOP’s Lohmer calls for resignation of SD56 webmaster over video