Capitol View®

Mondays with Barry

The day is off to a pleasant start. Barry Casselman called. Sure, I know you political gurus already know who Barry Casselman is, but while I've seen his columns -- more of late than before Polinaut -- I had never heard of him locally. This is, I gather, a reflection on me rather than him. I don't get out much.

Sounds to me like he's worth a story. Gary Miller says he's the person Michael Barone goes to (although Barry says that's a "generous" assessment)and he's frequently on the road with the Broders of the world.

He's from Erie, Pennsylvania originally; grew up just down the road from former Gov. Tom Ridge and, although they're about the same age, didn't know him growing up.

And he also used to be at MPR. He doesn't belong to a political party and describes himself as a "centrist."

I'm thinking there's good fodder for a little profile, so we're having lunch on Monday. I'll buy. Should be good insight. I already have his assessment of the Wetterling campaign, but there's a bigger political universe out there to explore.

Oh, by the way, he'd never heard of me either. He's in good company.