The litmus test?
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Charlie Weaver, with the Minnesota Business Partnership (and former Chief of Staff to Gov. Pawlenty and former GOP State Rep. from Anoka), told me something in 2004 that I think is a great barometer when thinking about middle of the road, swing voters. It's not the issues or the fundraising or the number of campaign appearances that a candidate makes that makes the difference. It's style...
At the time, I was working on a piece that examined a precinct in Coon Rapids (Ward 2 Precinct 1) where just 14 votes separated George W. Bush from Al Gore in the 2000 election.
Democrat John Kerry was about to campaign in Anoka County so I talked to Weaver and other voters about the issues that were important to them. Here's what Weaver said about those Anoka County swing voters:
"If the test is ... who do you want to have a beer with? That's a good test in Anoka County for anybody. George Bush wins that test."
Weaver was right (Bush lost Minnesota but won the election and the Coon Rapids precinct). Voters there also reelected Gov. Pawlenty (a Republican) and sent Amy Klobuchar (a DFLer) to the Senate in 2006.
If that's the case, Weaver and other Republicans may be worried about these poll results.
So here are the questions: Which presidential candidate would you rather have a beer (or BBQ) with and why?
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
