Minnesota

From today's edition of The Hotline:

'04 MN 06 nominee/child safety advocate Patty Wetterling (D) "announced an exploratory candidacy for the seat" 2/25. She also released a poll which "suggests that Wetterling would be a stronger DFL candidate" than Hennepin. Co. Atty. Amy Klobuchar (D), '00 candidate/atty. Mike Ciresi (D), or Rep. Betty McCollum (D-04).
      Carleton College prof. Steven Schier "said the poll demonstrated Wetterling's extraordinary name recognition." Schier: "She's basically a national celebrity ... and a familiar personality compared to her rivals." Klobuchar: "I'm going to make my decision based on whether I can make a difference for Minnesota, no matter who else is in the race" (Smith/Duschschere, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 2/26).
      With Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-06) now running for SEN, Dem leaders "had strongly urged Wetterling to make another run" for MN-06. Wetterling spokesperson John Schadl "said she has not ruled out running" in MN-06. Scahdl: "She's looking at where she can do the most good." But some Dem strategists "think she would make a stronger statewide candidate" because MN-06 leans GOP, "while the state is almost evenly split between the two big parties," and MND-06 "has a large bloc of anti-abortion voters who strongly oppose her stand in favor of abortion rights."
      Additional Dems still considering bids include Univ. of MN general counsel Mark Rotenberg, '00 candidate/ex-state Sen. Jerry Janezich (D) and state Rep. Tom Rukavina (D) (Salibury, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 2/26).