Brian Barnes claims to be ahead in delegates. Note: Barnes and Sharon Sund have raised very nearly nothing: The FEC--above--reveals the corporate candidates' catastrophic failure: Cash on hand: Brian Barnes = $28,462.14; Sharon Sund = $14,599.47.
Rep. Erik Paulsen has more than one million dollars to spend getting re-elected--and any prudent Republican political strategist would have to be telling him parsimony makes sense, for now--as he's facing perhaps the single weakest, brokest DFL field in memory.
Per federal rules, my activity thus far has not triggered the requirement to file any FEC documentation--that's why you don't see my name on the list.
After April 14, we'll have a single candidate with the temporary DFL endorsement, having received the support of <1% of CD3 Democrats.
When it comes to issues, a congressional campaign centers upon one primary question: Whose preferred policies will make our economy stronger--creating jobs and building a strong foundation for sustained growth?
Whether Sund or Barnes gets the nod on 4/14/12, that DFL candidate will want to raise taxes to address the nation's long-term balance-sheet problem. In other words, we will be saddled with a penniless Mondale manque whose central proposal for restoring growth is to implement the economic priorities of Education Minnesota. A candidate whose principal economic recommendation is uninteresting and incredible to voters--and if implemented would not meaningfully address the challenge we're facing.
A pleasant alternative exists:
I am the sole challenger who doesn't want to raise taxes: Instead, I seek to cap military spending at 1.5% of GDP. (The countries most comparable to us can do it--so we can do it.) By reducing our military spending from 4.8% of GDP to 1.5%, the lion's share of our deficit problem will have been solved. Sure, we'll have other problems to tackle--but I'm the only person running who's speaking openly and honestly about the most obvious solution before us.
The solution I am proposing is highly popular with rank-and-file CD3 Democrats--and it genuinely pulls considerable support from independents and from the party of Lincoln.
