On leaving an out...

Mike Unhatched reports that Hatch has left himself an out with regard to an earlier decision to abide by the DFL endorsement for governor:

October 2005: Hatch Pledges To Abide By DFL Endorsement If There Is “Decent-Sized” Turnout At DFL Precinct Caucuses. “Given Hatch’s history, the big question among DFL activists is whether he would abide by the party’s endorsement next year or run in the primary without party backing. Hatch hedged on that question, saying, ‘I am going to abide by the endorsement process,’ but then added he would do so only if there is a ‘decent-sized’ turnout at DFL precinct caucuses in March.” (Bill Salisbury, “Hatch Makes His Run Official; DFL’s Only Elected State Official Aims Higher Again,” Pioneer Press, October 25, 2005)

January 2006: Hatch Representative Lori Swanson Says Hatch Will Abide By DFL Endorsement. “One key political issue that divides the four Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidates is their stands on whether they will move on to a DFL primary election in September if they fail to win their party’s endorsement this spring. … [Kelly] Doran… repeated his previous promise to wage a primary campaign regardless of who gets the DFL endorsement. And [Becky] Lourey emphatically said she would be in that primary with Doran. … [Steve] Kelley promised he would not run in September if he fails to win the endorsement. And [Hatch Representative Lori] Swanson said she believed Hatch would honor the endorsement and not wage a primary campaign without it.” (Patrick Sweeney, “Candidate Forum May Be Preview Of Fall Campaign; DFL Governor Hopefuls Criticize Pawlenty,” Pioneer Press, January 16, 2006)

January 2006: Hatch To Enter Primary If He Comes “Even Close” To Winning DFL Endorsement. “Long considered the 500-pound gorilla in the DFL gubernatorial contest, Attorney General Mike Hatch now says that if he doesn’t win but comes ‘even close’ to winning party endorsement for that office, he will challenge the endorsee in a September primary.” (Patricia Lopez, “If He’s A Close 2nd, Hatch Would Run In Primary,” Star Tribune, January 24, 2006)

Like everything else Hatch wants, Hatch will go after the Minnesota governorship by hook or crook. Hatch wants the governorship so bad he can taste it; and he's not about to let the lack of endorsement by his base get in the way. The term "500 pound gorilla" used to describe Hatch is far from a misnomer. There will indeed be a war waged within the DFL for endorsement and into the primaries, and whomever does come out of the mix will no doubt be bloodied and deprived of much of the treasure needed to ultimately gain the governorship.


(Filed under Moonbat adventures, Elections)