As Democratic debate nears, DFL leader says MN may aid insurgent
After months of watching the Republican candidates dominate the political discussion, Minnesota Democrats now get a chance to tune in tonight to a debate featuring their favorite candidates.
The Democratic presidential candidates take the stage tonight in Las Vegas for their first 2016 campaign debate and the campaigns are looking to capitalize on it by hosting debate-watching parties in homes and community centers across Minnesota.
Organizers are hoping debate watchers make phone calls and get on social media before, during and after the debate to help deliver support at Minnesota's March 1 caucuses.
"Super Tuesday could be make or break for many of the candidates in the race," said DFL Party Chair Ken Martin, who expects Minnesota to get plenty of attention next year.
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Minnesota is one of 13 states holding a primary or caucus on March 1. And Minnesota's open caucus system will allow for supporters to walk in, vote for a candidate and leave. "Minnesota's caucuses are built to essentially favor an insurgent candidate from the left and we'll see what that ends up meaning on caucus night," Martin said.
Martin is backing Hillary Clinton's campaign. He notes that Jesse Jackson won the caucuses in 1988, Dennis Kucinich and Howard Dean fared well in 2004 and Barack Obama won in 2008.
This year's insurgent candidate could be Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. His campaign has two paid staffers and several volunteers organizing on his behalf in Minnesota.
Geoff Dittberner of St. Paul is working to build support for Sanders on college campuses. He said many people like Sanders because he's pushing for paid family leave for new parents and to increase the minimum wage.
"New voters and people who are not interested in politics are identifying with his message because they see him as authentic and they agree with what he's talking about," he said.
On Monday, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison became the second member of Congress to endorse Sanders, saying "Bernie has shown that he has the ability to create a renaissance in civic participation by exciting those who are least likely to vote."
But in order to win Minnesota, Sanders has to defeat Hillary Clinton, who has a lot more support from the DFL political establishment. Gov. Mark Dayton, Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul and several state lawmakers are backing Clinton.
Her campaign has one staff member in Minnesota right now. But Robby Mook, who manages Clinton's campaign, said she is focused heavily on winning Minnesota. In an interview in August, Mook said Minnesota will be a factor as the campaign maps out its path to the nomination.
"This is about organizing, organizing, organizing. Getting out to our supporters, reminding them about the caucus, getting them engaged and getting their help reaching out to more and more people."
The campaigns for the three other Democratic candidates, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee don't have much of a presence in Minnesota.
And it's not clear what happens if Vice President Joe Biden enters the race. Biden campaigned in Minnesota for the Obama/Biden ticket in 2012. He also campaigned in Duluth and on the Iron Range for DFL Rep. Rick Nolan last year.