In one of the few bright spots of last week's elections, MN will most likely end up with a Democratic Governor for the first time in almost 2 decades. Former Senator Mark Dayton is up by 9,257 votes out of more than 1.8 million cast, against Tom Emmer, a former state congressional leader.
The problem.......
The MN GOP is starting a renewal of the same tactics they used in the 2008 Senate race between Al Franken and Norm Coleman.
Delay, delay, delay.
According to the MN State Constitution, whenever an election has less than one half of one percent difference, the state automatically demands a recount. There is not problem here. Most all of our state's elections are fairly counted. We value our integrity here. At least we used to.
One of the tactics the GOP used in '08 and are planning to reinstate is ongoing lawsuits to be filed after the results come back in Dayton's favor. We have our own version of Karl Rove in MN who goes by the name Tony Sutton. He has been very publically fighting the next step in this battle before the winner of this battle has been declared. They know they have no chance of overturning the decision that comes down, so why are they planning to do this?
Tactics.
IF a lawsuit is filed, the seating of Governor Dayton will be delayed until the right leaning MN Supreme Court renders a decision. IF that timeframe for this decision goes past January 3rd, when Dayton would be seated, his seat will be held and Governor Pawlenty will keep the seat temporarily.
If this tactic fails, or in an effort to shore up the court tactic, Tony Sutton has already been charging Mark Ritchie, our elected incumbent democratic Secretary of State, with voter fraud. This charge is baseless and these charges were being spouted BEFORE MR. RITCHIE EVEN BECAME INVOLVED.
This would be all well and fine. Our democratic house and senate has done their best to keep Pawlenty in check for the last eight years and have staved off MANY of his far right plans to destroy Minnesota, but the story will be different now.
The biggest problem we face if he does retain power, even for a short time, is that our state just flipped BOTH of our houses to the republicans.
Pawlenty would be given free reign to push through the radical agenda that has eluded him until now with NOBODY to keep him in check. This is a man that has huge presidential aspirations and is currently courting the teabaggers for their support.
The BEST MN dems can hope for over the next term is that Dayton can and will keep the houses in check.
I see a huge mess in the making.