St. Cloud Times - Feeling Left Out

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St. Cloud Times - Feeling Left Out

He's on the ballot this fall in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District race, but Independence Party candidate Bob Anderson said he feels like his candidacy's not getting much attention yet.

"It's tough getting any press. I just want to stay in the game," said Anderson, a mental health activist and dental technician who lives in Woodbury.

The first-time candidate lost out on the Independence Party of Minnesota's endorsement, which went to DFLer Elwyn Tinklenberg.

But as the only candidate to have filed to run under the party banner for the seat held by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., Anderson is the de facto Independence Party candidate this year, even if he doesn't have the party's support.

Anderson called to chat this week, and said he had tough questions on energy for Bachmann, who had just returned from a Congressional trip to Alaska to emphasize drilling for more oil, and Tinklenberg, who emphasized renewable energy developments already underway in the 6th Congressional District in a recent campaign swing.

He mocks Bachmann's theatrics on the issue, even as he said he agrees with her that increasing energy production is key.

"We don't need to go to Alaska to find energy," he said. "We do need to use all of our resources."

Energy isn't one of the four policy items Anderson addresses on his Web site.

On Iraq, he expresses support for General Petraeus' strategy and says he is the one who should decide when it's safe to withdraw troops.

On education, he endorses vouchers and tax credits for school choice.

On health care, he states his opposition to "government-run, universal health care."

On immigration, he is a "secure the borders first" advocate.

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