Final Thoughts From Draft Ciresi!

Draft Ciresi! was created following the DFL convention in order to express the concerns of many Minnesotans over Al Franken, specifically, his ability to defeat Norm Coleman. We have criticized Franken for his faults and Norm Coleman for his downright sleaziness, all while emphasizing the potential candidacy of Mike Ciresi. We have made our position clear on all three candidates.

Earlier today we learned that Mike Ciresi would not be entering the DFL primary to challenge Al Franken. This has brought us disappointment, but also the confidence to say that Norm Coleman will unfortunately be our Senator for the next six years.

In the coming months, Republicans will assail Al Franken for his comedy, satire and character. Al Franken’s history that we have come to term as ‘baggage’ will not appeal to rural or Independent or Conservative voters, and even some Democrats. Republicans will unite behind Norm Coleman, not in support of the Senator, but in a general determination to defeat Al Franken. The Republican attack machine will push Independent and moderate voters to both Norm Coleman and IP candidate Dean Barkley. Republicans will be able to distract from the issues by releasing the mountain of opposition research that has been conducted on Franken, all while Norm Coleman pretends to be a moderate, bipartisan Senator. By mid October, Franken will be trailing Sen. Coleman in the polls and Dean Barkley will have little support.

Norm Coleman will be reelected by a wide margin of at least 10 points on election day; a landslide victory by any standard. The Senator will view his reelection as a mandate to continue his partisan policies, rather than as protest vote against the Democratic candidate. This election will be divisive, partisan and damaging to Minnesota. It is a depressing prediction, but a truthful one.

We understand the reasons why Mike Ciresi passed on challenging Al Franken in the primary, even though he could have achieved victory had he run. A lengthy, bitter primary fight would only sully Mr. Ciresi’s name and created a divide in the DFL party.

Those of us who had wished for Ciresi to reenter now find ourselves in a great deal of difficulty in what has turned to a depressing Senate race. We are faced with Al Franken, the man who returned after thirty years to continue his career of partisan attacks. There is Norm Coleman, who has spent his life doing what is best for himself over the interest of Minnesotans. And, of course, there is Dean Barkley, who has settled with running for Senate because he has nothing better to do and because he thinks the job is easy; that is true commitment to Minnesota. All other candidates in the race will not amount to anything deserving of mention. It is not our role to influence who you will support.

Many have suspected us of being a Republican creation; that is surely not true. Now that Mike Ciresi is no longer viable, our site will discontinue. We do not mean to affect the discussion further, not that have at all. We only ask that as the election unfolds that you remember what we have said in this short time and remember that it could have been different.

Thank you to those who applauded our efforts, criticized our motives, and merely observed from a distance.

The Draft Ciresi! Team