The Chaska Herald - Q&A with Sen. Norm Coleman
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The Chaska Herald - Q&A with Sen. Norm Coleman
Correspondent Forrest Adams asked several questions to Minnesota's Republican Senator Norm Coleman, the former mayor of St. Paul, after a re-election rally for Coleman in Chanhassen on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Q: How important were the efforts of the Carver County Republican Party to you when you were elected in 2002?
A: They were critical to me. I did pretty good in Eden Prairie, but I did better in Carver County, right here, right in Chanhassen. This is very, very important. The energy you saw here today, I think, reflects the strength that we've had in this area- everybody from city council folks, the mayor, state reps, the state senator. This is an important area for me. This is a strong area. These folks who care about the economy, care about jobs, care about healthcare and don't want government bureaucrats standing between them and their doctor. These folks understand you don't grow jobs by raising taxes. We have a shared vision. They also understand the importance of working together to get stuff done. You've gotta work with folks. The mayor here knows you've gotta work with folks. That's a big contrast between me and my opponent in this race.
Q: How has your perspective of the election changed since John McCain put a former mayor is on the Republican ticket?
A: If I had written the Constitution, there'd probably be some prerequisite that mayors and people who have serve as mayors be fore some of these other offices. What's really happening, and you saw it in this room today, is that the McCain-Palin ticket has energized folks across the board, and by the way it's not just Republicans. The base is energized, but small business folks, folks all over, whether it's suburban areas, urban or rural, housewives, moms and dads. There's a energy that has been generated by Palin's nomination as vice president that has really lifted up the whole ticket. I said at the convention 'Anybody that can lace up a kid's hockey skates, can ride a snowmobile and can shoot a gun is going to do pretty well all throughout Minnesota. I think she has been an energizer in this campaign. As a result, the dynamics of the race have changed.
Q: A Minnesota DFL video camera crew has been assigned to follow around Senator Coleman as he meets with people. They brought along somebody dressed in a pin-striped suit who wears a mask shaped in the likeness of President George Bush. The pseudo-Bush character dances and waves to Coleman supporters but does not talk. One of the DFLers at the rally said the strategy behind this is to link Coleman to the seemingly unpopular Bush because in the Senate Coleman has not voted contrary to the party-line. The camera crew hovered over Adam's shoulder as he interviewed Coleman. So what's it like having a DFL camera crew follow you around to all your different stops? (Snickering by the camera crew after the question)
A: It is the way you do business today. Polics has certainly changed in the last few years. It's gotcha politcs. People are looking to catch you in a moment where you get tongue tied. I've had that happen already. (A sigh) It is what it is. But in the end, I love doing what I do and love interacting with people. If one side wants to film it, hopefully by the time I'm done he'll want to vote for me.
Q: In this re-election bid, do you have President Bush come in and campaign for you, or do you try to distance yourself?
A: It's not about distancing. The president is probably not going to come in because it's not about the president. John McCain will come in and campaign. He's on the ballot in November. I'll campaign for him. I'll be there. Sarah Palin will come in. This election is about the future. It's not a referendum on the past. People are worried about if they're going to have a job tomorrow. Are they going to have health care tomorrow? Are they going to be able to afford gas in their car tomorrow? Today and tomorrow. It's not about yesterday. The other side is still talking about Iraq and Bush, as if that's the only thing on people's minds. I think they're missing it. I think folks are concerned about today and tomorrow. They're more concerned about those things that impact them in a way that they can put food on the table, whether if their kids get sick if a doctor can take care of them right away- are they going to be safe and secure- than they are what happened in 2004 and 2000. I'm looking forward to the top of our ticket, our presidential candidate, campaigning for me and campaigning in this state. This state is going to be competitive, which it has not been in a long time.
Q: How has the campaign against Frankin been different from other campaigns you have run in the past?
A: Listen, Al Frankin is running against me. Here's a guy who came back to the state two years ago. He has never provided any service to the people of Minnesota. There's nothing in my opponent's background that can show that he has ever provided any service to the people of Minnesota. There is nothing that my opponent can show in his entire background that ever helped a farmer make it through difficult times, that ever helped a small business person grow a job, that ever helped a family whose kids got sick take care of their healthcare. I've worked on all those issues.
I played a critical, a lead, role in crafting a farm bill. I played a lead roll in renewable fuels and doing those things to gain independence from foreign oil. I have been a champion of health care, rural healthcare in particular, across the board. So on issue after issue, I have been involved.
I'm running against someone who's record has simply been one of calling people names and being divisive and angry. I don't think that the people of Minnesota will see that as good training for the U.S. Senate. There's a clear contrast in this race of myself, who has a history of bringing people together to get things done, versus somebody who doesn't have that. I'm looking forward to the November election date.
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