MAK has a campaign manager

Jamie's the greatest (0.00 / 0)

Jamie is one of the brightest stars in the DFl. Her list of accomplishments for the party is too long to list but it's safe to say that she is one of the main reasons M-K is speaker because Jamie made it possible for a lot of candidates to win.
In my opinion she was the most important person at the party headquarters yet you could always get her on the phone and she would answer any questions you had.

As many republicans who are no longer in office can tell you, Jamie is not someone you want to go up against.
This is big news.  

---

by: taxpayingliberal @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 13:17:01 PM CDT

what about the speaker's gavel? (4.00 / 1)

what's the matter with the gavel?

Robin is a freelance editor and writer.  Follow her at http://twitter.com/robinmarty

---

by: Robin Marty @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 13:57:05 PM CDT

Sort of surprised (0.00 / 0)

I figured MAK wouldn't run since her seat as both a member and the DFL leader is safe, and so is the DFL's majority for at least another election, and the Speaker is pretty powerful. On the other hand, my sense is she will be a strong candidate even in such a strong field.  

---

by: ericf @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 14:18:15 PM CDT

It's a great hire (4.00 / 1)

Maybe the best one thus far and vaults her up the list of candidates.  No one is going to be able to out-organize Tincher.  The only thing that might weigh the Speaker down is the responsibilities of being Speaker.  She will need real buy-in from Caucus members to make this work.

But make no mistake, this hire makes her one of, if not THE, one to beat right now!

David E. Kaplan
David E. Kaplan Consulting
David Kaplan can be reached at david@dkaplanconsulting.com.
Follow David on Twitter

---

by: DavidKaplan @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 15:12:42 PM CDT

How about following the law? (0.00 / 0)

Here is what the MN Campaign Finance Board says about running for Governor:

Candidates must register within 14 days of raising or spending in excess of $100 to influence their nomination or election. Once registered, the candidate's principal campaign committee must file periodic reports.

Rep. Kelliher has been campaigning since the session and now has hired a campaign manager for her Gubernatorial campaign. Is it even remotely likely that her campaign has not spent $100? I probably speak for many who would wish our Gubernatorial campaigns to follow the campaign laws. How about it?

---

by: joel @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 15:51:52 PM CDT

Got a link to that? (0.00 / 0)

I recently spent some time on the Campaign Finance Board's website, but I didn't see that.....

---

by: TwoPuttTommy @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 16:05:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Here is the info, but there is more to the story (0.00 / 0)

TwoPutt: http://www.cfboard.state.mn.us...

It's on the 2nd page at the top.

However, to steal a line from Pat Kessler, Joel's comment is not "the whole truth," For a person in the Speaker's position it is well expected that as part of her job she is traveling the state.  And while it looks like she is campaigning for Governor, she is technically doing the travel under that "hat" if you would.

In terms of "hiring" Tincher.  In the Black story, he points out no contract has been signed, and no money exchanged, and Tincher is still employed at the DFL (but has given notice).  So technically, no money has been spend on the potential campaign.

Yes, it is seems like a lot of smoke and mirrors, and very "inside baseball" but Joel's concern is at best pre-mature.  The Speaker has yet to announce she is running, so how can one spend money on a campaign one has not announced for yet.  I would expect her to not file until Tincher or any other staff officially starts.

David E. Kaplan
David E. Kaplan Consulting
David Kaplan can be reached at david@dkaplanconsulting.com.
Follow David on Twitter

---

by: DavidKaplan @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 16:15:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Campaign Finance Board on candidate spending (0.00 / 0)

The Campaign Finance Board policy is stated under "Candidates/Overview" at http://www.cfboard.state.mn.us...

Regarding David's points in this thread, Rep. Kelliher introduced herself at a DFL gathering yesterday as a possible candidate for Governor and solicited input from the crowd on her candidacy. Granting the campaign manager job to someone is not quite the same as issuing a paycheck. All that is true. It's also just too cagey and amounts to stretching the rules to the breaking point. How about just following the rules and filing those reports to the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board?

---

by: joel @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 17:49:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree to some extent (0.00 / 0)

But that said, Kelliher is just playing by the same rules everyone else is.  You could make the same argument about a number of any candidates on both sides of the isle.

The rules might not be perfect, but they are the rules.  And to expect DFL candidates to not play by them only gives GOP candidates an added advantage.  And I think the Speaker is currently well withing the established CFB rules.

My 2 cents.

David E. Kaplan
David E. Kaplan Consulting
David Kaplan can be reached at david@dkaplanconsulting.com.
Follow David on Twitter

---

by: DavidKaplan @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 18:17:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Tincher da bomb (4.00 / 1)

I agree that Jaime Tincher is an awesome snare for MAK.  She's responsible for our most excellent DFL database.  I think she'll do as good a job for Margaret as campaign manager.

---

by: The Big E @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 22:02:17 PM CDT