A Tale of Two AFSCMEs: Chapter Three
Our Tale of Two AFSCMEs continues. AFSCME Council 65's executive director, Steve Preble, back at AFSCME Council 5:
“While one can appreciate the sharp wit of a candidate [Al Franken], we feel a solid platform on middle class issues, honest answers to tough questions and a career track record of victories for middle class Americans and all Minnesotans is more important when choosing a United States Senator...We are proud to endorse Mike Ciresi, he is the best candidate to defeat Norm Coleman and represent us in the U.S. Senate.”
And Leslie Sandberg, communications director for the Mike Ciresi campaign:
"Mr. [Eliot] Seide's comments should be put in context of his endorsement of one of Mike's challengers. Momentum is with the Ciresi campaign as the polls and delegate count clearly show. We are consistently the leading Democrat in the polls and are not burdened with the extremely high negatives Mike's challenger has. Mike is a demonstrated leader in Minnesota, where he has lived, been educated, and worked his entire life. He has made life better for all Minnesotans through his professional and philanthropic work. Powerful special interests don't laugh when they hear he's coming -- they know they will be held accountable and will have to change their ways."
The big lesson that PIM draws from the Tale is that AFSCME endorsements matter hugely for DFL candidates. Our informal survey, gleaned from questioning key Democrats the last week, distills down to this: If the DFL endorsing contest was held today, Franken would probably win, however, Ciresi has the momentum. Now, much more than in the past, Democrats are wondering whether Franken can withstand the scrutiny in places like Michael Brodkorb's Minnesota Democrats Exposed of every off-color joke or comment Franken has ever made.
“While one can appreciate the sharp wit of a candidate [Al Franken], we feel a solid platform on middle class issues, honest answers to tough questions and a career track record of victories for middle class Americans and all Minnesotans is more important when choosing a United States Senator...We are proud to endorse Mike Ciresi, he is the best candidate to defeat Norm Coleman and represent us in the U.S. Senate.”
And Leslie Sandberg, communications director for the Mike Ciresi campaign:
"Mr. [Eliot] Seide's comments should be put in context of his endorsement of one of Mike's challengers. Momentum is with the Ciresi campaign as the polls and delegate count clearly show. We are consistently the leading Democrat in the polls and are not burdened with the extremely high negatives Mike's challenger has. Mike is a demonstrated leader in Minnesota, where he has lived, been educated, and worked his entire life. He has made life better for all Minnesotans through his professional and philanthropic work. Powerful special interests don't laugh when they hear he's coming -- they know they will be held accountable and will have to change their ways."
The big lesson that PIM draws from the Tale is that AFSCME endorsements matter hugely for DFL candidates. Our informal survey, gleaned from questioning key Democrats the last week, distills down to this: If the DFL endorsing contest was held today, Franken would probably win, however, Ciresi has the momentum. Now, much more than in the past, Democrats are wondering whether Franken can withstand the scrutiny in places like Michael Brodkorb's Minnesota Democrats Exposed of every off-color joke or comment Franken has ever made.
Morning Reports
is Middle Class only class?
It's funny to me that these posts and comments talk about how Ciresi and/or Franken will help "the middle class".
What about the working poor? What about the homeless?
It seems only the "middle class" is represented by today's DFL.
That's a shame.
- Tom