The handwriting was on the wall, yet why did it take so long ?

Al Quie has finally formally announced his endorsement in Minnesota’s First District.

After fellow Republicans Dave Durenburger and Arne Carlson had endorsed Tim Walz (D-MN-01) for another term, there may have been some wondering what Al Quie would do. After all, Durenburger, Carlson and Quie had all rejected Republican nominee Tom Emmer in favor of the Independence Party nominee for Governor, Tom Horner.

Well, this announcement should not have been a surprise … after all, Governor Quie had endorsed Randy Demmer in the primary … so it should have been assumed where his support would be.

Which prompts the question : Did Demmer have to push Quie to formally make the announcement to counter the release of another poll indicating that the voters want Tim Walz to represent them in Congress for another term ?

Although the Quie / Durenberger / Carlson endorsements are interesting, to the best of my knowledge, none of the triumvirate live in the First District and will not vote for either candidate.

The fact that various news sources announced that a Republican was supporting another Republican should not be news … yet it indicates a campaign moving to find any good news …

A more relevant storyline is that the other endorsements have not been in Mr. Demmer’s favor … consider
The Winona Daily News

1st Congressional District
Randy Demmer has a lot to say about Tim Walz.
That’s unfortunate for the voters of Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District for two reasons.
First, Demmer doesn’t leave much time on his attack ads to say much about what he believes, and he forgets key details.
For example, Rep. Walz got the National Rifle Association’s endorsement. Or that Walz bucked Democratic leadership when it came to Wall Street bailouts. Or that before voting for the massive health care bill he sought – and received – the blessing of Mayo Clinic, Winona Health and Gundersen Lutheran before casting a vote.
Walz is what so many voters and citizens seem to want – a moderate centrist who is willing to find compromise and tell the unvarnished truth, not borrow some partisan talking point.
Walz had to cast some tough votes in the past two years with more undoubtedly to come. He’s been good for Minnesota and can be counted on to vote his conviction more than his party.

Or the Albert Lea Tribune

Tim Walz gets things done. He cares about constituents. He tours the 1st District getting feedback. He gives straight answers.
If you don’t agree, perhaps you just haven’t sat down with him and talked.
His opponent, Randy Demmer, is a good man, too, but we see no good reason or cause to remove Walz from his seat.
We endorse Walz for the 1st District congressional seat.
Watching this race’s TV commercials, voters already know there are some outside interests trying to influence this race with false claims. (Thank you, U.S. Supreme Court.) Our suggestion is, in this or any race, don’t base your votes on TV commercials, especially ones that don’t have the candidate approving the message.
Why are these outside influences coming after Walz so strongly? He is a rising star in Congress. He is someone who has the respect of his peers, someone the 1st District would be wise to keep in Washington to bring greater clout to this district. Demmer can’t top that.
Before the health care vote, Walz participated in forums across the district, worked closely with the Mayo Clinic and did his research on how America needed more preventative measures, such as Albert Lea’s Blue Zones project. He read the entire bill before voting on it and knows it inside and out. He works hard. Still, he admits President Obama and the Democrats could do a better job of helping Americans understand what’s in it.
Walz is right about America’s energy policy and the need to spur research for homegrown renewable energy. He even favors more research on nuclear power. Homegrown power is a defense issue, something China is investing heavily in.
He notes the good side of No Child Left Behind but sees why it needs to end. He is open to alternative teacher licensing and outside-the-box ideas for education. He has a solid relationship with the southern Minnesota business community and is pro-fair trade.
Walz is an asset. Demmer presents no argument to remove Walz from Congress.
Vote for Walz on Nov. 2

Or, for the most comprehensive evalauation of the candidates, read the Rochester Post Bulletin endorsement with these highlights :

These men have been trading barbs for months, but let’s set aside the sniping and look at their positions on key issues.

On health care reform, Demmer says he’d prefer to throw it out and start over. “I see this as a conduit for a single-payer, government-run system, and I can’t go along with that” he said. He says the numbers don’t add up, that the plan relies heavily on new taxes and “savings” from Medicare that might never materialize. Furthermore, Demmer says forcing people and businesses to buy health insurance may be a violation of the U.S. Constitution. “I think we’ve gone over the edge,” he said.

Walz admits that the reform package is far from perfect, but he sees no reason to start over. “I hope things are changed and revamped,” he said. “Sen. Durenberger, who is the godfather of understanding good, affordable health care, has always said that health care reform is a journey, not a destination.”

Concerning education, the two candidates actually share quite a bit of common ground.
Likewise, Walz and Demmer don’t clash significantly on energy policy — with the notable exception of the environmental regulations known as Cap and Trade, which Walz supports and Demmer opposes. Both support nuclear power, biofuels and alternative energy.
But ultimately, we believe Tim Walz has done more than enough to earn a third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and we endorse him to represent Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District.

We admire the way Walz has gone about his business, both in Washington and here at home. Some candidates change their persona and image, depending on where they are and whether the cameras are running. Walz isn’t such a candidate. His average-Joe attire isn’t for show; rather, it’s what one might expect of a former teacher, football coach and 24-year National Guardsman who earned the rank of command sergeant major.

Yes, he talks fast, and he talks a lot. But that’s a forgivable flaw, provided that one has a lot to say and that there are actions to back up those words. Walz has relentless energy, and he brings a soldier’s work ethic to the House. In addition to his well-documented efforts to support veterans, he played a key role in creating more transparency in the House appropriations process, and spent countless hours working with Mayo Clinic in the years-long process of crafting health care reform legislation.

And for us, this race may hinge on health care. Walz stands firmly behind a system that will prevent insurance companies from refusing to enroll people who have pre-existing medical conditions. He will fight to protect the rights of children to stay on their parents’ insurance until age 25, thus plugging a gap that is all-too-familiar for many recent college graduates who haven’t yet found a benefit-paying job.

These are serious times, andonly by electing serious people wholook forward, rather than trying to undo the recent past,willAmerica emerge from its current crisis. Tim Walz has helped lay the groundwork for a brighter future in Minnesota and America, and we believe he can help break the “I’m right, you’re wrong” gridlock in Washington.

That’s a triumverate of newspapers that know the District highways and backroads … and they have all experienced Tim Walz closely for four years … and they are endorsing not out of political party affliation but out of performance.

The results will be determined by who shows up to vote … Don’t Let APATHY Win ! ! !