Take Two? Could Ex-Sen. Coleman Mount Comeback as ... Governor?
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that an interesting name has popped up among the people being speculated about as Republican candidates for governor of Minnesota, now that incumbent Republican Tim Pawlenty isn't running again: Former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman -- the man who is still litigating his defeat against Al Franken in the photo-finish 2008 Senate race.
David Strom, a senior fellow at the state's conservative Minnesota Free Market Institute think tank, seemed to take the idea seriously and said that running for governor could be an "attractive prospect" for Coleman. If Norm Coleman had not come out ahead on the first [vote tally] ... I think the political fallout would have been quite significant," said Strom -- but since Coleman had at some point been seen as the likely winner, he could potentially be able to salvage the situation.
If this sounds absurd, consider just how many phases this man has had in his political life. In college, he was a left-wing campus radical. He went on to become a liberal Democratic politician -- then became a Republican, and lost the 1998 gubernatorial race to a pro-wrestler. He came back in 2002, by getting elected to the Senate over Walter Mondale after the death of Paul Wellstone. And if his lawsuit against the Senate election results proves nothing else, it shows just how persistent he has always been.
This does invite some obvious questions. While a Coleman candidacy could have a clear draw for the state's Republican base, how would he make up for the fact that current polls say that everyone else in Minnesota wants him to finally concede defeat? And the longer this current lawsuit goes on -- that is, if Coleman tried to take it into federal court after the state Supreme Court issues its widely-expected ruling against him -- would he even leave himself time to build up a gubernatorial campaign, too?
And then there's the whole matter of the ongoing federal investigation that a wealthy donor, Nasser Kazeminy, allegedly conspired to funnel money to Coleman back when he was a Senator. If that's still hanging over his head, it would be difficult to get a campaign off the ground in the Upper Midwest, a region that has prided itself on a reputation of clean politics.
Quite understandably, Norm himself has yet to give any real comment on a possible gubernatorial run. We'll find out in the coming weeks or months whether he throws his hat in -- perhaps after a final defeat in the Senate race -- or rules it out.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Well, him doing the noble thing and backing down after this next ruling probably wouldn't hurt him politically for the Governorship.
June 3, 2009 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
He missed the chance to do the noble thing a couple of appeals ago.
June 3, 2009 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe even a couple elections ago.
June 3, 2009 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
This would be a great trade, if it meant that the GOP would finally accept that Franken is the legit winner. Considering that Minnesotans seem content to vote for people like Ventura and Bachmann, Coleman would fit right in.
June 3, 2009 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ventura was elected with less than 40%, and Bachmann represents a gerrymandered wingnut congressional district. Neither represent Minnesotans generally.
June 3, 2009 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you.
June 3, 2009 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
While Jesse is a bit too much of a libertarian/budget cutter type for my taste, on all of the "hot button" issues, including abortion rights and torture, he is one of the most forceful voices for the correct position that you will find.
Comparing him to Michelle Bachmann does the man a grave disservice. I suggest you do a little more research before slagging him in the future.
June 3, 2009 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
True. For all his tantrums and silly public statements, Ventura should still get credit for being very outspoken on the hot-button issues. He was very clear in his support for gay rights and his contempt for a flag-burning amendment. And, he was as much responsible as anyone for finally getting rail transit back in the Twin Cities again. He picked the right people to work on it and was a staunch advocate. And, it's a huge success.
He went out on a sour note, but he's starting to redeem himself by beating up on the righties on the torture issue.
June 3, 2009 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed that Jesse wasn't that bad a governor. He was genuinely shocked (and almost humbled) when he won and managed to keep his ego in check for about 2.5 years. He did have one monsterous Achilles heel regarding his view of single mothers who relied on any form of social service. I remember a confrontation where he told a mom that she "should of thought of that before she got pregnant". The mom shot back "Sometimes the dad makes other plans" and abandons the family.
June 3, 2009 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
And a huge part of why Jesse's term ended on such a bad note was because Tim Pawlenty was the House Majority Leader at the time and was blocking any sort of comprehensive budget work. Tim's been wrecking effective and bi-partisan governance ever since he arrived. So glad he'll be gone.
June 3, 2009 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
You should track his recent comments on torture, he has said what has needed to be said. Nothing has made me happier in the past few weeks than Jesse calling Cheney a chickenhawk with five deferments while being interviewed on Fox.
While not sophisticated, he is willing to listen and learn.
June 3, 2009 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
No.
June 3, 2009 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, HELLLLLLLLLL NO!
Typical wingnut commentary from the Star Tribune; pay it no mind. Coleman is dead politically here in Minnesota.
June 3, 2009 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Co-sign. The man can read a poll, if nothing else. He is self serving and cynical as hell, but he is not stupid.
June 3, 2009 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
"He...became a Republican, and lost the 1998 gubernatorial race to a pro-wrestler. He came back in 2002, by getting elected to the Senate over Walter Mondale after the death of Paul Wellstone. And if his lawsuit against the Senate election results proves nothing else, it shows just how persistent he has always been."
And probably railing against "bureaucrats" and those sucking on the government teat the whole time.
June 3, 2009 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know it's been said
many times many ways,
but:
No.
June 3, 2009 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wonder how long he will hold up the Governorship in litigation?
June 3, 2009 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dick Cheney personally called Tim Pawlenty and asked him not to run for governor again so that the RNC could run their guy Coleman instead.
/snark
June 3, 2009 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
BWAAHAAAHAAAHAAAHAAA!!!
June 3, 2009 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh please oh please oh please!
There's a pretty great line-up of gubernatorial candidates for the DFL right now. The only problem is that one of the main Republican contenders seems to be Jim Ramstad, who's an honest-to-God moderate with actual convictions - the kind of guy Pawlenty pretended to be, and the kind of guy who could win over plenty of swing voters.
Sure, it'd be nice to run against a candidate with actual principles for once, but it'd be so much easier to run against Coleman, the man who's defined the term "sore loser". I guarantee you that if he runs, some third party will pop up and siphon away the Republicans-who-can't-bring-themselves-to-support-this-moron vote.
June 3, 2009 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
My thought is that Coleman has to realize that his dog-in-the-manger act is doing his public image some harm, but the Party wants him to keep blocking the Democrats from getting their 60th senator, so he asks, what's in it for me? And they mull it over and decide, well Pawlenty, we gotta pay off Coleman, you gotta take one for the team...and here we are...who is paying for Coleman's legal fees? Some lawyers are cleaning up over this...apparently the smart boys chomping on cigars in the back room don't see any downside to this strategy...
June 3, 2009 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Run, Normie, run!
June 3, 2009 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suspect Coleman's political future in Minnesota is dead on arrival.
The real question is whether the DFL can nominate a candidate who breaks into the Independence Party votes and at the same time excites the various factions in the DFL. DFL wins if the Independence Party doesn't take 15% of the votes off the top. Right now my DFL has about eleven announced candidates for the Nomination, and in the last 24 hours about six Republicans have thrown their names in the hat. There is lots of talk in some parts of running Michelle Bachmann for Governor -- Good Lord. But that part of the Republican Party controls a goodly chunk of likely delegates to a Republican endorsing convention. And she can win in a multi-candidate primary if she is the only paleo-con in the mix.
The Coleman name dropping comes mainly from the editorial board of the Star-Tribune.
June 3, 2009 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Although the possibility of having "Chickletts" around for a few mores years for laughs is alluring, the reality is that his days are numbered. I think we will see him continue to be a paid shill for lsrael-first crowd.
BTW: If anyone has not seen this piece of vidoe of Chickletts having is arse handed to him while shilling for Bush's illegal war, it is really not to be missed. It is a few of the finest moments of truth-speak that has ever taken place in the Senate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyyGoPerzWc
June 3, 2009 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
He has no shot at governor. The mere thought is laughable. Even conservative media like the National Review has told him to give up. Democrats would come after him with a vengenence.
I can't see why the MN GOP would want to nominate this toxic clown.
June 3, 2009 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
YO ERIC!!
Pawlenty just told Andrea Mitchell that he would not be "playing those sorts of games" with the Franken certificate, and "would follow the direction of the Court"
June 3, 2009 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you suggesting that a statement by a Republican can be trusted? If one told me the sun would shine today I would wear a raincoat all day. There is a lot of money at stake with the control of the US Senate, so I doubt that any Republican will lift one little finger to get another Democratic senator in the Senate.
June 3, 2009 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
It seems like even if he can't win, it would be extremely logical for him to run for Governor. After all, it would seem like that gives him a chance to do another shot at fundraising to pay for that surely very expensive lawsuit he's wrapping up. Right?
June 3, 2009 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I absolutely despise Norm Coleman. That said, as absurd as it may sound now, I wouldn’t dismiss out of hand the possibility that Norm could win both the MN GOP nomination and the governor’s office.
The reason I say that is this: The Minnesota Independence Party. Yes, the bastard child of H. Ross Perot’s Reform Party and the ticket that Ventura rode into office. The winner of the Minnesota governor’s office hasn’t garnered more than 50% of the vote since the election in 1994. It’s a near certainty that Pawlenty would not be in office today if not for the spoiler role played by IP candidates in 2002 and 2006. He won his elections with 43% and 47% of the vote, respectively. He beat Mike Hatch in 2006 by less than 1%.
Based on policy and rhetoric, the Minnesota IP candidates are indistinguishable from a moderate Democrat. The 2002 IP governor’s candidate was actually a former Democratic US House Representative. This is an educated guess on my part, but I think the IP candidates draw less than 20% of their votes from registered Republicans. They draw most heavily from independents, followed by registered Democrats. Ergo, if the IP runs a less-than-totally-obscure candidate in 2010 the opening for a Republican to win while moderates and liberals split their votes is no less available than it has been for the past three elections.
As a sidenote, I think that without Ventura in the race Coleman would have won in 1998. Despite the political pedigree, H. H. “Skip” Humphrey III was not a very well-regarded candidate.
June 3, 2009 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Skip was a tolerable candidate, he was an abysmal campaigner.
And the Independence Party is a disaster for MN, primarily because many (incredibly naive) DFL-ers believe that a "protest" vote is something other than suicidal idiocy. They don't like the endorsed candidate for some reason or other, so they "go pure" and hand it over to the Republicans.
June 3, 2009 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
One suspects that Coleman's plan is to run for Governor, taking office in time to certify himself as the winner of the Senate race.
June 3, 2009 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is the state that elected Jesse Ventura governor. Anything is possible. Heck, they would probably elect John Daly if he ran--too bad he's a resident of Arkansas.
June 3, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know Jesse Ventura. Jesse Ventura is a friend of mine. Norm Coleman is NO Jesse Ventura!
June 3, 2009 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mr. Coleman has a history of being a simple opportunist. I should think a run for any office in Minnesota would provide any of his opponents the platform to run 30 second ads demonstrating Coleman's lack of consistent "values" over time and, without any further argument, bring on his repudiation at the ballot box. Career politicians are bad enough, but Coleman's zig-zag/flip-flop behavior is so pathetic.
June 3, 2009 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Come back? When did he go away?
June 3, 2009 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
This gives a new definition of "comeback" since the war, at least in his eyes, has not been lost. I suspect that until the SCOTUS tells him to leave the building, so to speak, he still goes to bed at night thinking he has a shot and a possible Senator-elect. Plus I am sure all his cigar chomping buddies still call him "Senator."
I don't know anything about MN and its great people. Do they consider him a sore loser like I do? If they do, then his post-election conduct has assured his doom in state politics as it has nationally.
Moreover, in this bad economy and states getting federal bailouts I assume that Minnesotans want a governor who will be respected in Washington and able to get things done. Coleman the fool is not that person.
And on the personality front, my impression of Minnesotans is that they too like nice people and dislike jerks. So Coleman is out on that basis too.
I predict that Coleman is going to do what other asshats do, become a lobbyist.
June 3, 2009 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's the ticket, Norm. When you lose the election to Mark Dayton you can always file suit for a recount based on disenfranchisement of a few unknown voters that you know exist but just can't seem to find. Maybe the next time the Minnesota Supreme Court will find the evidence for you so your lawyers don't have to work so hard.
June 3, 2009 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or you could team up with Bachman and run for emperor of California or Micronesia or something.
June 3, 2009 10:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since he has not accepted defeat, how can his consideration as governor be a comeback? Please explain.
Coleman and Bachman (the Sarah Palin of the lower 48) sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! Moondancing has it, they should both head off to Micronesia!
June 4, 2009 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink