Energy is great. Health Care is important. Taxes matter. But the 2010 governor's race has to be about jobs.

DFLers, who thought that their field in the race for governor would have more clarity after the summer, are still without a clear front runner.

This week's news of St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman bowing out and House Minority Leader Marty Seifert winning the Republican Party gubernatorial straw poll bring the first signs of clarity to a race that has been otherwise tough to find focus.

Minnesota politicos need to loosen up. For the past few years, Minnesota politics has been lacking humor, jokes and stories.

Michael Brodkorb has left the blogosphere. With one of the most politically influential bloggers in Minnesota turning in his keyboard to become the deputy chair of the Minnesota Republican Party, one has to wonder what his fellow citizen pundits on the right side of Minnesota politics will do.

The latest congressional fundraising reports are in. And based on fundraising, conventional political wisdom indicates that the two U.S. House seats to watch in Minnesota are the 3rd and the 6th districts.

The lessons we should take from this race are that political operatives can make the difference in an election and that core Minnesota values of humility and populism are recipes for success.

State House Republicans elected Rep. Kurt Zellers, a skilled political operative and public relations pro, to be their new leader. He could become the party's rising star, but he faces some daunting challenges.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is acting less like a rising star and more like a status-quo go-along-to-get-along governor.