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Information for Journalists about the US Senate Race Results
We knew that if we did not win we would have to explain the “spoiler issue” despite the fact that it was Coleman and Franken who spoiled this race with the most negative, issueless US Senate Campaign in state history. This is version B of the explanation. If Franken got 500 more votes, then we would be using version A for a the disgruntled and whiny Republicans instead.1) Most Barkley voters would not have voted without him in the race.
According to the National Election Pool exit polls, 45% of Barkley supporters would not have voted at all in the Senate race without Dean (StarTribune). According to CNN that number is 75%. Given the stigma attached to saying you would not vote, we are inclined to thing the percentage is on closer to the higher one. Question: Do you want to disenfranchise these voters?
According to the Secretary of State, over 25,000 people who voted in the Presidential Race did not vote in the Senate Race.
Norm Coleman and Al Franken ran the dirtiest, most expensive campaign in the United States. There was less than 1/80th spent on Barkley and yet he got 15%. Look in the mirror candidates. Parties: pick better candidates! By the way Al, if Dean benefited from negative ads, imagine what would have happened had you been a nice guy!
2) The AP says that Dean Barkley pulled evenly from both sides:
Click here for the story.
Exit Poll data says the percentage of Dems and Republicans who voted for Dean was equal. This jives with nearly every previous poll, which had the pull the same or varying between the two.
Moreover, Franken lost far more votes to Coleman directly than he did to Barkley.
3) The IP pushes Minnesota over the top on voter turnout.
Minnesota has had the highest voter turnout rate for years. The media concentrates on same day voter registration, but completely forgets Minnesota’s multi-party system. Without the Independence Party, we would not lead the nation in turnout.
4) Our support is going up.
We can reasonably say that our base is now at 10% or above. This is astounding. We are not as big as the other two major parties, but we are much more than a typical 3rd party with growth and staying power.
5) Hey- we support like-minded politicians….you don’t care to report!
This year we experimented with cross-endorsing Steve Sarvi, a conservative Democrat for Congress in order to give him a boost. The media ignored it, and did not allow Sarvi to cite cross-endorsement in the paper. We also endorsed El Tinklenberg and Representative Ron Erhardt (Republican). The media stuck their head in the sand and ignored this as well. That’s too bad.
History of Minnesota Federal Races:
2000
Tom Foley (IP) CD4- Democrat wins
James Gibson (IP) Senate- Democrat wins
2002
Jim Moore (IP) Senate- Wellstone was ahead and climbing before tragic death
2006
Tammy Lee (IP) CD5- Democrat wins
John Binkowski (IP) Senate- Republican wins (but John pulls libertarian votes in NW part of district.
Robert Fitzgerald (IP) Senate-Democrat wins
2008
Greg Mikkelson (IP) CD1 Democrat wins in swing district
David Dillon (IP) CD3- Republican wins in a historically Republican seat
Robert Anderson (not endorsed) CD6- Republican wins while Anderson picks up same NW parts of the district that are libertarian in background
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On the Blog
Did you really expect them to bahave differently?
Posted Thursday, 20 November 2008 by Jim Moore
After the the most negative campaign in Minnesota history, the US Senate Race has now in the midst of a recount. And the negativity continues. Charges, counter charges and challenges are the theme now. After the recount, it will move to endless rounds of court challenges (As Ventura's chair of the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Election George Soule prognosticated, "Will this end up in the courts? My best estimate is that it is a 100% likely."). We're also seeing unfounded accusations of unsecured absentee ballots being driven around town and stroke victims having their absentee ballots rejected...BOTH FALSE...see Pat Kessler's Reality Check. Hang on, it can and will get uglier. Continue reading
The Media, at it's Best and its Worst
Posted Thursday, 20 November 2008 by Jim Moore
We are fortunate to have one of the best, if not the best, editorial cartoonist in the country in Steve Sack of the Star Tribune. He captured the historic sentiment of the country in his post election illustratration of Abraham Lincoln (seated in his memorial) fist bumping a victorious President-Elect Barack Obama (see it here). But just two weeks later, he captured the worst of media sentiment in his cartoon of Senator Joe Lieberman as a little boy being whipped by an angry DFL Donkey with a wet noodle (see it here). Continue reading
"...but it strikes me that America uses generational change every eight years to wash its hands of responsibility. Through every generational change our country goes deeper into debt, loses ground on industry and loses another generation to failed education reform. This is crazy."
Peter Tharaldson in "Colin Powell Missed it." Join the discussion
Minneapolis 2009 IRV Election
Posted Saturday, 15 November 2008 by Peter Tharaldson
The Effort to Disenfranchise 437,377
Posted Friday, 07 November 2008 by Jim Moore Comments (2)
There is a massive effort by disgruntled DFL activists to disenfranchise the 437,377 of you who voted for Dean Barkley on Tuesday. Their effort has been aided by some less informed members of the media who are either blissfully ignorant of the facts, or too complacent to seek them out. Your principled vote did not elect Norm Coleman. It made the Independence Party and its centrist candiates an even stronger force for change. Continue reading
3rd party fade theory goes down in flames!
Posted Wednesday, 05 November 2008 by Peter Tharaldson Comments (2)
Political scientists, who have gotten practically nothing right this year, have long suggested that 3rd party candidates fade towards the election. Well- they better hit the books again. Every one of our candidates this year went up or held their own. That should not be a surprise. It has happened more often than not for Independence Party candidates. The fact is some go down, some stay the same, some go up, just like any other major party's candidates. It looks like that propoganda called "Third Parties in America", the one that uses seven presidential races going back to the 1920's to make idiotic conclusions...is really a bunch of hooeey. Continue reading
Featured Candidate
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Dear Friends,
I know the newspapers have reported we lost, but as usual they're missing the real story of this campaign.
Even though we were out-gunned at every turn in this election, we came together, made our voices heard and proved that Minnesotans do have a better option. We don't have to accept the same old political games that produce the same old mediocre results. We don't have to choose between the lesser of two evils. And we don't have to vote our fears.
The only way we really lose is if the hard work of the last three months goes to waste. We have to use this as a springboard. It's not the end of our effort, but instead a new beginning.
I got into politics 16 years ago because I was mad and wanted to do something about it. While this is likely the last time my name will appear on a ballot, our cause must go on—and I know it will because of you.
There's nothing spectacular about what I did—anyone can do it. To ensure we move forward stronger than ever, I'd like you to support the Independence Party by signing up to volunteer or by making a financial contribution. I helped start this party so everyday Minnesotans have a real choice and now I need you to join me in building our party. As we've seen over the past few months, Minnesota needs us.
What's a political party without candidates? I'm glad you asked. If you're reading this message, I'd also like you to consider running for local, state or federal office as a member of the Independence Party. I know it sounds daunting, especially right after a grueling election cycle, but the system doesn't work if good people aren't willing to step forward and serve. I'm glad to help you in anyway I can and I know you'll be surprised by how many other people jump in to lend a hand.
Finally, we have to keep on our elected officials to make sure they do a good job representing our interests. I called Al Franken and Norm Coleman on Wednesday to congratulate them on hard-fought campaigns. While we disagreed on some important issues, I know once the recount process is resolved the winner will head to Washington with the best intentions. It's our role to support them when they're right and stand up to them when they're wrong. Good government isn't the product of good luck; it requires an active, vigilant citizenry and that's a job as important as any elected office.
Thank you so much for a great campaign. I'll never forget everything you did for our team. I'll always be humbled and honored by what you sacrificed for this effort and I know we'll emerge from this stronger than ever before.
Sincerely,
Sen. Dean Barkley
News Headlines
Minnesota's U.S. Senate candidates blitzing on election eve
On the campaign trail with Dean Barkley
Senate candidates meet for last debate
Dean Barkley unveils Senate campaign TV commercial
Sharp exchanges mark last Senate debate
Coleman, Franken trade ad accusations — then get to debating issues with Barkley
