True North

…but I’d like to direct you to the campaigns of our two NARN2 guests [Saturday] - Barb Davis White, who is the GOP-endorsed candidate for Congress in the Fifth Congressional District…

…and Tom Effertz, who is running to win back District 54B, in the north-east ‘burbs of Saint Paul.

By the way - I got flak from both sides over my post last week asking for CD2 Republicans to peel off a couple of bucks for the likes of candidate White in the Fifth and Ed Matthews in the Fourth.

The flak from the left - as with this post from leftyblog Cardiopulmonary Patient in a Red District - was pretty ludicrous stuff, essentially saying “Republicans should just give up, since we’ve won these districts every election since the Truman Administration”.  Sorry, Blue - I don’t believe in sinecures, and I do relish a good fight against a self-satisfied, smug, overconfident foe, since it makes the eventual victory all the sweeter.

Some of the flak from the right hit a little closer to home; little birds tell me that some of the CD2 leadership wasn’t happy with me.  They’re right not to give in to complacency - it’s a lousy year for any Republican in Congress to feel complacent, even when up against a train wreck like Al Franken (or, maybe, a punchline like Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer).  But let’s do be realistic; even Democrat talking heads are advising “sell” on Sarvi.   And Michele Bachmann is going to go over Elwyn “E-Tink” Tinklenberg like it’s a prison shower-room beatdown, and that’s even if “Dump Bachmann” isn’t a high-profile voice in the campaign (and if they are, tack on another point or two for the incumbent).  

Minnesota will never really join the 21st century until the GOP contests the urban 4th and 5th Districts.  Now - with sharp, articulate candidates like White and Matthews, who will shred the hapless-outside-of-friendly-rooms Ellison and the brittle, incoherent McCollum in debates and on policy - is as good a time as any to start trying.

Cross-posted and comments welcome at Shot In The Dark.