Jeff Blodgett, Dean Of DFL Operatives, Is Anxious

From the Minnesota Reformer:

By J. Patrick Coolican
August 13, 2020

DFL operative Jeff Blodgett has sent me a few DMs this week signaling his anxiety about the fall.

First, he sent me this Emerson poll that shows Joe Biden up 50-47 in Minnesota. “Too close for comfort,” Blodgett said.

I told him it seems like an outlier.

His response: “Emerson is pretty respected. Team Trump is truly going for a win here so they must have internals that show the race closer than, say, in Michigan…. Nationally people falsely assume MN is in the bag.”

Then when the news comes out that President Donald Trump is coming here next week, more Blodgett: “If there was any doubt how seriously Trump is taking MN.”

And: “Even if he doesn’t win here, he could negatively affect the down ticket by boosting turnout in all the wrong places.”

And there’s your state Senate and House. Indeed, a three point Trump loss could mean a GOP Legislature. Biden needs to win by something more like seven to tip the Legislature to the DFL. If it’s five, it’s probably close.

Blodgett’s broader point is very true: Dems need to run like they’re 20 behind. Especially since even this morning Trump again bashed mail voting and is openly seeking the assistance of foreign powers to secure his reelection.

Plenty of nuggets like these, but you’ve gotta sign up for Daily Reformer, here.

The Minnesota Reformer is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to keeping Minnesotans informed and unearthing stories other outlets can’t or won’t tell..