Kline rejects another opportunity to appear with Shelley Madore

According to the Madore campaign, former state Representative Shelley Madore received a formal response Monday from incumbent John Kline rejecting an opportunity to debate her in front of a live audience in the Second Congressional District.

"It saddens me that the voters of this district will have one 25-minute radio interview just one week before the election as their only opportunity to evaluate our ability to best represent them in Washington," said Madore discussing the incumbent's reluctance to make time to appear before district voters.

"Rep. John Kline has been in office for eight years; he seems to take for granted that his seat is secure despite the 18% public approval rating for members of Congress. I believe the voters of this district have had enough of elitist Washington politics.

I have appeared at FarmFest and the Goodhue County Veterans candidate forums and will participate in two Transportation Alliance candidate forums in the next two weeks, all of which John Kline has refused to attend. In his response, John Kline cited his conversations with voters at community events over the summer. I have spent the last nine months listening to voters' concerns about jobs, health care, transportation and education funding. These are serious times and demand a serious candidate willing to work for your vote."

Former Minnesota Representative Shelley Madore

Madore's campaign has reportedly conveyed an additional offer made Monday by the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce to host a debate, seeking an opportunity for voters to compare and contrast the two candidates and their records in a setting where the public can see and judge both.

According to Rasmussen incumbents are in trouble, and Kline's lack of initiative for projects within the district while he continues to vote for earmarks inserted by other members of his party leaves him open to questions from the voters. His record of voting against funding for veterans has led some to accuse him of supporting war without supporting the warriors. Madore's 35 Cent Tour has successfully explained to Minnesotans that not all earmarks are pork, and swing voters are increasingly suggesting that Kline needs to do more than repeat talking points if he wants to represent them in Congress again.

"Only 12% of voters believe most members of Congress are more interested in helping people than in helping their own careers. Seventy-six percent (76%) say most in Congress put their own careers first. Skepticism has remained this high since October."

From Congressional Performance

Rasmussen Reports

Kline continues to dodge voters

First Kline dodged the Farmfest candidates forum, then the former Marine officer skipped the invitation to the Goodhue Veteran's forum, and yesterday the Star Tribune revealed that GOP Congressman John Kline somehow could find no time to debate his opponent, former State Representative Shelley Madore, in response to an invitation from KSTP-TV and the League of Women Voters. The spin? Madore's campaign hadn't specifically asked.

Seriously. The Star Tribune article cites a campaign statement that Kline has been busy talking with constituents about Washington's "increasing intrusion into their homes and workplaces," echoes carefully tested GOP talking points -- but where is Kline talking? Saying a short joint appearance on MPR - less than a half hour - an open exchange of ideas with his opponent suggests Kline has nothing much to talk about. And even that came from staff.

OK, I suppose he can rationalize avoiding voters at Farmfest since it was a few miles outside the district. After all, Michelle Bachmann wasn't there. Sure, it's a big deal to Minnesota farmers, but it's not like his whole district is farms, right? There are obviously many more votes in the northern, suburban areas. Of course, Madore thinks farmers are a vital part of the local economy, but she grew up on a small farm.

Still, it starts to be a story when a former Marine officer somehow can't find time to accept an invitation to a veteran's forum that is clearly inside his district. His rhetoric tends to support military funding - well, at least funding current operations. If my record voting for spending on veteran's affairs was as shabby as his I might give the veterans forum invitation a miss, too.

But KSTP and the League of Women Voters gave him plenty of notice, and evidently the rest of his voting record isn't something he's proud of, either. Well, kudos to Shelley Madore for holding a press conference and personally delivering a letter to his office.

"Please allow the voters of our Congressional District the opportunity to learn enough about us to make an informed decision by participating in a debate with me."

Shelley Madore,

in an open letter to John Kline

Should Madore echo the late Senator Paul Wellstone's "Where's Rudy?" campaign, perhaps? Kline's spokesman says he's talking to constituents, but mostly he seems to wave from the middle of parade routes. Is a 4-term Congressman really so scared of losing his seat that his campaign has to make flimsy excuses? Is his record really that thin? Apparently so, yes.

Kline doesn't usually talk to anybody in uncontrolled, unscripted settings, and he's hoping that talking a few minutes on MPR one week before the election will convince voters in his District that he listens?

Pull the other one, John; it's got bells on.

MPR: Bachmann, Kline, and Powers spurn Farmfest invitations

OK, to be fair, according to the MPR story Ms. Bachmann's staff said her absence was due to a sudden undisclosed illness, but after watching Tarryl Clark's reception she may regret the decision to give her District 6 opponent the chance to address Farmfest unchallenged.

One DFLer, Powers, joined Bachmann and Kline in skipping Farmfest 2010

Kline (R) and Powers (D), though, evidently have no interest in this traditional election year opportunity to get their message out to the most politically interested rural and farm voters in advance of the August 10th Primary, so the only voice for the 2nd District was former State Rep Shelley Madore, who has recently been criss-crossing the sprawling 2nd on her 35 Cent Tour as her campaign gains momentum while Powers struggles instead to counter negative stories in the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press.

Voters not certain where to cast their ballots on August 10th can visit the Secretary of State's website to find polling locations based on zip codes in advance of the Primary. Traditionally low turnout in "off" years may be countered this year by the prominent contest among three DFLers, Former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton, and former MN Legislators Margaret Anderson-Kelliher and Matt Entenza, all seeking the party's gubernatorial endorsement There has been extensive coverage of the MN Governor's race..

DFL voters looking to compare and contrast Madore and Powers, however, are left scratching their heads, as Powers has gotten limited media coverage and avoided invitations to debate since before the party's convention, including one from Alan Miller of Access to Democracy.

CANDIDATE FORUMS HIGHLIGHT FARMFEST

Candidate Forums have been a feature at FARMFEST in every even numbered year for two decades, and 2010 will be no exception, according to Kent Thiesse, FARMFEST Forum Coordinator. Thiesse said that FARMFEST has hosted Candidate Forums for every statewide race for Governor and U.S. Senate since 1990, as well as holding a Congressional Candidate Forum every two years for potential Congressional Candidates in Minnesota Districts that have a major emphasis on the agriculture industry, and a significant rural population.

The focus of past Candidate Forums has been on agriculture and rural issues, and that emphasis will continue again in 2010. Thiesse points out that many Forums during the length of the campaign season cover the vast breadth of issues facing candidates, but the FARMFEST Forums are one time when the focus is much more “fine-tuned” on the issues that are critical to farm families, small businesses, and rural communities.

The "Governor Candidate’s Forum on Rural Minnesota", which will be held at FARMFEST on Wednesday, August 4, at 10:30 AM, has garnered considerable statewide attention, and even some national focus. All five of the major Candidates for Governor of Minnesota have confirmed to participate in the FARMFEST Forum. This includes Tom Emmer, Republican candidate, Tom Horner and Rob Hahn, Independent Party candidates, and DFL candidates Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Mark Dayton, and Matt Entenza. A panel of Minnesota agricultural and rural leaders will pose questions to the Gubernatorial Candidates on a variety of issues affecting farm families and rural communities. The statewide Primary Election is on August 10, and the General Election is on November 2.

The "Congressional Candidate’s Forum on Agriculture and Rural Issues" will be held on the first day of FARMFEST, which is Tuesday, August 3, at 10:30 AM. All Congressional Candidates from Minnesota’s First, Second, Sixth, and Seventh Congressional Districts have been invited to participate in the Forum. Thus far, former MN Rep Shelley Madore (D) who is challenging John Kline (R) in the Second District, Congressman Collin Peterson (D) and Lee Byberg (R), his opponent in the Seventh District; Congressman Tim Walz (D), along with Randy Demmer (R) and Steven Wilson (I), his opponents in the First District; and Tarryl Clark (D), who is challenging Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R) in the Sixth District, have confirmed to participate in the FARMFEST Forum. A panel of agriculture reporters for radio and newspaper will pose questions to the U.S. House Candidates on a variety of issues affecting agriculture and rural communities.

Ideas for questions may be submitted via e-mail to Kent Thiesse, FARMFEST Forum Coordinator, at kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com. That information will then be forwarded to the panel members that will be posing the questions to the candidates during FARMFEST.

FARMFEST Forums will be held throughout the day on August 3, 4, and 5, in the Forum Tent on the FARMFEST Site, which is located at the Gilfillan Estate, 7 miles southeast of Redwood Falls, Minnesota. In addition to the two Candidate Forums, the 2010 edition of FARMFEST will include special forums ranging from ideas for Minnesota’s next Governor, to understanding carbon credits, to the future of the livestock industry, and strategies for agricultural education. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will be the keynote speaker at the Forum on Thursday, August 5, at 10:30 AM. All of the Forums will provide ample time for questions, and follow-up discussion by Panel members.

For more information on the Forums at FARMFEST, please contact Kent Thiesse, FARMFEST Forum Coordinator (507-381-7960).