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Wetterling drops from Senate race; backs Klobuchar
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Race
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| Contributor | Eric |
| Last Edited | Eric Jan 20, 2006 02:56pm |
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| Category | News |
| News Date | Friday, January 20, 2006 08:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Children's safety advocate Patty Wetterling said Friday she is ending her Democratic campaign for U.S. Senate, and threw her support to Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar.
Wetterling's withdrawal leaves Klobuchar and veterinarian Ford Bell as the last announced DFL competitors for the open Senate seat. On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy has a virtual lock on the nomination.
Minnesota's Senate race is among a select few around the country deemed highly competitive. Incumbent Sen. Mark Dayton announced a year ago he would leave office when his single term ends, acknowledging he was having trouble raising money after dipping deep into his personal fortune to pay for his 2000 campaign.
Klobuchar was regarded as the DFL favorite even before Wetterling dropped out. She boasts a sizable edge in campaign cash and has been accumulating key endorsments among left-leaning interest groups and politicians.
Political analysts said Wetterling's withdrawal eases pressure on Klobuchar to spend precious dollars now and gives her more time to prepare for a prospective fall campaign.
"It enables the DFL and the Klobuchar campaign to focus more on the development of their message against the Republicans and Mark Kennedy in the fall without having to be distracted by an intramural contest," said Hamline University political science professor Joe Peschek.
He added, "Barring some major development it sure looks like pretty smooth sailing for Amy Klobuchar to get the DFL nomination." |
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