However, I don’t agree that such a candidate must pledge to abide by the endorsement process. I know that sounds heretical to some people.

Our state’s two-level system (wherein we go through both endorsement and primary) is both rare and cumbersome–most states have only one or the other. The endorsement process weighs heavily in favor of the more extreme members of the parties (like Bachmann). A candidate needs to appeal to the moderate citizens of both parties and the non-affiliated voters in order to win in the 6th. A Democrat ought to be able to win a primary, which involves a broader spectrum of the citizenry, in order to earn the right to face Bachmann in November. I would encourage candidates and supporters to focus on the primary and general election fights rather than the endorsement process, which is all about preaching to the choir.

RBH, former 11th Ward, 5th District, Organization and Membership Chairman. 🙂

The caucuses start ramping up in February and March, and I will be interested to see if he is able to get the endorsement. I doubt it.

One issue with abiding by the endorsement is that the race is sewn up too early, and voters get fatiqued. Plus non-actives grouse about not having a voice in who they get to vote for if the party chooses in April who is going to be on the ticket. I think it wastes a lot of money, and part of the reason that Franken’s election was so close was that there were so many Democrats leading up to the primary harping that Franken’s not electable, and it has a lot to do with the way we do the primaries.

I, personally, would rather do away with the late primary system for the major offices because turnout is so low which skews the results.

But, honestly, once the primary is over we need to be at full bore against Bachmann. I don’t care who is on the ticket at this point. We need to destroy Bachmann’s career once and for all because she is bad for America. We also need a Democratic guv.

And remember Wetterling in 2006? That was just as disruptive and harmful to the DFA’s chances that year as Tinklenberg running without the DFA would be this time around, and yet no one seemed to care about party integrity or broken promises then either: she was slightly more liberal (though, by her own public and ultimately twice prove-correct admission, too liberal to win), so to hell with actually winning!

So I wouldn’t any put money on Tinklenberg running without the DFA, no matter what he says in order to try and convince people he’s serious this time around.