The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

June 3, 2008

Democratic race draws all kinds of eyes

Mark Fischenich

MANKATO — Democrat Lori Sellner of Sleepy Eye and Republican Jerry Groebner of Madison Lake are both just a little bit disappointed that the long battle for the Democratic nomination is finally at an end.

Sellner, who will be a Barrack Obama delegate at her party’s national convention in Denver, admits a part of her thought it would be intriguing to be at a convention where two presidential candidates were still fighting for the nomination.

“Just a very small part,” Sellner said. “Mostly, I’d rather not have the fight on the floor (of the convention hall).”

Chairwoman of the DFL in the 1st Congressional District, Sellner said the highly publicized competition between Obama and Hillary Clinton has brought new people to her party and has tested the mettle of Obama. But there are going to be hard feelings by Clinton’s most ardent supporters, and those need to be mended if Obama is going to beat Republican John McCain on Nov. 4.

“It’s going to take some work,” she said.

Groebner, the Blue Earth County Republican chairman, believes McCain benefited greatly from his early victory in the GOP nomination fight and wouldn’t have minded seeing the Democrats distracted for a few more weeks.

“He’s been able to just sit back and let them muddy each other,” Groebner said. “... Their battle has been our benefit.”

Still, Groebner said his satisfaction in watching the Democrats fight is muted somewhat by his belief that it’s unhealthy for either party to be deeply divided. And he’s ready for the main event to begin — one where he thinks Minnesota will be prominent.



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