Democrats are rallying around their endorsed candidate for governor Margaret Anderson Kelliher as they launch a Get Out The Vote (GOTV) effort. Kelliher says volunteers will make about 300,000 phone calls and knock on 30,000 doors on her behalf. Phone banks will be running 11 hours a day. It’s all in advance of the new primary date Tuesday August 10th. DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez said “with the DFL comes an army of volunteers and unparalleled field operation.” The question is if that operation can compete with the millions spent by Mark Dayton and Matt Entenza. Dayton sent out an email thanking the “hundreds of people who signed up have contacted thousands of voters through calls and doors knocked.” Entenza announced he’ll Get Out The Vote through a Hip Hop Action Day.
Kelliher wouldn’t mention Dayton by name but referred to her “middle class background” and said “I won’t cut and run” along with “we can’t go from a no new taxes governor to an all new taxes governor.” When asked how she would compete with Dayton’s advantage with senior citizens, Kelliher says she has lawmakers out doing targeted senior door knocking right now. Kelliher added her proposal to cap property taxes, create a cabinet position on aging and protection of nursing homes in the legislature are popular ideas with seniors who are reliable primary voters.
