Impact - Elections have long-term

Impact - Elections have long-term impacts that are often way out of proportion to their near-term ones.

The Grundseth scandal in 1990, for example, affected Minnesota politics in a way far beyond merely whose butt sat in the Governor's chair for 4-8 years. From that scandal arose the election laws that are governing our current Senate rhubarb, as well as Arne Carlson's liberal-friendly redistricting that may have extended DFL hegemony over this state by a decade.

OK - so what about this election?

I have a prediction. Disclaimer: I'm usually wrong, but when I'm right, I really do it up.

OK: Based on what happens in tomorrow's election, I think we may be on the brink of seeing Minnesota's first female governor - and she'll be a conservative Republican.

If Eagan mayorPat Anderson Awada wins the State Auditor slot tomorrow, whether Pawlenty wins or not, she will become in either 2006 or 2010 the state's first major party-endorsed female gubernatorial candidate. She's got some serious momentum, and she could seize a rather high profile if she beats the office temp tomorrow. Given the state's slow creep to the right, I believe she could very well be Minnesota's
first female governor.

What do you think? Write me - it's been a while since I printed any reader feedback!