Fraters Libertas

Movin' On Up?

Monday's St. Paul Pioneer Press carried a story of how Republicans are already starting to look forward to 2006 and a chance to give Senator Mark Dayton the boot:

And when Republican activists talk about the race in which they hope to remove Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, the name they mention most often as a potential challenger is 6th District Rep. Mark Kennedy.

Based on Saint Paul's latest slanderous defamation er... acute analysis of Mark Dayton, it's not surprising that Kennedy's not alone in his desire to take a run the befuddled one:

Kennedy is not the only Republican name being mentioned as a Dayton challenger: Rep. Gil Gutknecht of Rochester could throw his hat in the ring and Brian Sullivan, the businessman who challenged now-Gov. Tim Pawlenty for the GOP's endorsement for the state's top seat, also may be a contender.

Either of these gentleman would make a worthy opponent for Dayton. But Kennedy appears to very very early front runner. If Kennedy did run, who would fill his seat in the House of Representatives?

Among the potential Republican candidates being talked about to run for the 6th District seat: state Reps. Phil Krinkie of Shoreview and Jim Knoblach of St. Cloud, state Sens. Dave Kleis of St. Cloud, Michelle Fischbach of Paynesville, Michele Bachmann of Stillwater, Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer and former U.S. Sen. Rod Grams.

Yes, the same state Senator Michele Bachmann whom we had the pleasure of rubbing elbows with in August on The Patriot boat cruise. I think there was some talk radio host there as well but we were too busy chatting with the lovely Senator to pay much attention. It sounds like there is a pretty good chance that Senator Bachmann or Senator Eye Candy as JB likes to call her, may indeed make the leap from local to national politics:

"I've had a number of people call me and ask me to consider running and that is an option that I am considering," said Bachmann. But, like others, she adds she would only run if Kennedy decides to take on Dayton.

So we could have this scenario in 2006: Kennedy knocks Dayton out of the Senate and Bachmann wins the 6th District House seat. Let's just hope she'll remember the people who were with her from the start. Or at least with her from this past summer.