Gina wrote: "ahhh...I hate to tell you dan, but the shegstad campaign underestimated the support for Gary Schiff. I also hate to tell you that WARD 9 is regular folks, and them regular folks-have mortgages work hard as hell, and have kids, and dogs...I am not sure what Ward 9- the illusion was who doesn't come out to vote??? But it sure sounds like a generalization of why shegstad lost the primary. The progressives in Ward 9, stood behind Gary Schiff, and also Dave Bicking- this is what Ward 9 looks like. I am sure Shegstad is a great guy, but listing himself as independent, maybe was the problem- hiding ones party affiliations might not be the best campaign advice. Ward 9 is regular folks, and always has been- us working class people do not feel let down. "
No. we didn't underestimate Schiff's support. We over-estimated it. We expected to place second in the primary. It was Bicking and the Greens we underestimated, as I stated before. 51% for an incumbent DFLer in a low-turn-out primary election is pretty poor performance. Usually low turn-out elections favor the incumbent. Primaries in Minneapolis are typically heavily weighted toward the DFL, because it's the party activists that vote in primaries. Most people don't even know when a primary is held, or why. What I read into the primary results is Schiff is pretty unpopular. Following conventional wisdom, the primary should have tilted heavily in his favor, and the best Shiff could muster is 51%? What will than mean in the general, when more regular (non activist) people get out to vote? Remember, 49% of PRIMARY voters said no to Schiff. He can expect the general election to be less kind. Shegstad listed as an independent because that's what he is. Yes, he had the city Republicans' ensdorsement. He also worked with the Libertarian Party and manned the State Fair booth for the Independence Party. Two campaign staffers were DFLers. Our campaign manager ran for state senate as a Green endorsed candidate. Our treasurer was with the independence party. One of our staffers was a Republican. Shegstad sought additional endorsements, but most parties don't cross endorse (which he wasn't aware of at the outset). Dan McGrath Longfellow http://www.shegstad.us REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
