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Is Minnesota In Play for Romney?

By: darrenperkins (Diary)  |  July 10th, 2012 at 04:39 AM  | 

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Borrowing from Winston Churchill, it could be said –  from a political point of view — that Minnesota is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside of an enigma.  Perhaps that’s hyperbole, but it’s difficult to refute the fact that Minnesotans have been known for their colorful characters in state and national politics.

The national spotlight shifted to Minnesota when former wrestler and independent candidate Jesse Ventura won the governorship despite running against Democrat Hubert Humphrey, III whose surname carries much political clout in Minnesota.  After Ventura served one term the people replaced him with conservative governor Tim Pawlenty who served two terms.  The governorship is now held by a Democrat.

Republican Senator Norm Coleman, as well all know, lost his Senate seat to a former Saturday Night Live cast member.  Al Franken managed to rally the liberal base and win 103% of the vote.  Franken’s current seat was held from 1978 to 1991 by a Republican German Jewish emigre from Berlin, Rudy Boschwitz.

Minnesota has been loyal to its native sons.  Richard Nixon failed to carry the state in 1968 while running against former Vice President and Minnesota native Hubert Humphrey.  Nixon did carry the state in the 1972 election — this is the last time a Republican has done so.  Carter won it in 1976, but had Minnesota Senator Walter Mondale as his running mate.  Reagan lost the state in 1980 and 1984 when he faced Mondale in the general election.  Reagan carried 49 states with the exception of Minnesota (and the District of Columbia) in 1984.

How would Minnesotans react to Tim Pawlenty being selected as Mitt Romney’s running mate?  Would the state possibly swing right as it occasionally does in gubernatorial and US Senate elections?  Minnesota has politicians as far left as Al Franken and as far right as Michele Bachmann.

Let me conclude by saying that I don’t believe the polls.  I won’t be complacent in this election, but I think Romney will win and I don’t think it will be even particularly close.  Considering the disastrous presidency we have on hand it isn’t unrealistic to think Minnesota may lean right if former popular two-term governor Tim Pawlenty is chosen as Romney’s running mate.

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  • http://redpillreport.net/ RedPillReport

    OK…so perhaps we won’t see Romney winning 44 states, as Reagan did against Carter in 1984. The percentage of Americans looking to suckle at the government nipple is much higher than it was in the 80′s.

    However, Obama’s disastrous 1st Term more than rivals the rotton egg Carter laid between 1976-80. And just like in1980, the Democrat base will not be very enthusiastic–certainly nothing like we saw during the Obama lovefest of 2008, while the conservative base will be energized in the hopes that we can repeal the ObamaCare trainwreck!

    I believe a lot of states that have been Democrat strongholds are in play in 2012. And just like in 1980, where the conservative mobilization gave Republican’s control of the Senate for the first time in 25 years…it is feasible that the GOP could get control of both houses of congress and the Presidency. If that happens…they’d better be prepared to ‘get stuff done,’ or they will be a ‘one-term proposition.’

  • http://redpillreport.net/ RedPillReport

    Reagan actually won 49 states against Mondale in 1984.

  • darrenperkins

    To borrow from a prominent commentator, if Obama is reelected we will have committed national suicide. I think people are going to turn out in droves to evict Obama from the White House. I know there are countless people who, like me, are going to do everything legally in their power to get votes for Romney.

    I’m disillusioned by John Boehner. We don’t need a bleeding heart RINO who will cry; we need a PITBULL in the Speaker’s Office. Mitch McConnell sticks his foot in his mouth with talk about not being able to repeal Obamacare — that is BLASPHEMY. I want McConnell out as Senate Majority Leader and DeMint to lead the Senate majority — and yes, I do believe we’ll win the House, Senate, and the presidency this November.