Chris Truscott: "DFL Senate Primary Would Be More Democratic Than Endorsement Fight"

Christopher Truscott has posted a brief, but insightful analysis of the possible upcoming DFL Senate primary fight. We at Draft Ciresi! have consistently stated that the system for nominating DFL candidate is broken. Mike Ciresi was tied or stronger than Franken in every state poll leading up to his withdrawal, but Ciresi was forced out because the delegates who nominate the DFL candidate do not reflect the general population.

"Primary challenges to party-endorsed candidates are generally greeted about as warmly as a White Sox fan at the Metrodome.

But the fact remains that the ballot box is a far more democratic way of selecting party nominees than the endorsement process as employed by the DFL and Republican parties.

For instance, a record-smashing 214,066 people turned out to DFL caucuses on Feb. 5. It’s an impressive figure for a Tuesday night in the middle of winter, sure, but it pales in comparison to what Minnesotans do in traditional elections.

In 2006, 316,470 people voted in the lightly contested DFL gubernatorial primary between party-endorsed Mike Hatch and then-state Sen. Becky Lourey.

Two months later, statewide DFL candidates Amy Klobuchar, Hatch, Lori Swanson, Mark Ritchie and Rebecca Otto received an average of 1,112,331 votes.

As a share of the total number of potential DFL voters, February’s caucus turnout was paltry at best, so to say that Mike Ciresi challenging Al Franken in the Senate primary would be some kind of sin against the party completely ignores the “d” in DFL—unless democratic now means 20 percent of the people should have the right to pick for the rest of us.

If he chooses to run, Ciresi should be given a fair hearing and accepted or rejected on his merits as a candidate and potential senator, not his adherence to an antiquated and less-inclusive political process."

Mike Ciresi will appeal to a broad group of voters, including Democrats, Republicans, and moderates. Mike Ciresi will secure the pivotal independent vote. Mike Ciresi will make this an election about the issues. Mike Ciresi will not be smeared by the Republican machine. Mike Ciresi will defeat Norm Coleman.

If Ciresi chooses to run, Minnesotans will have the opportunity to show us what they truly believe.