Senator Tina Smith is being challenged by former Republican Richard Painter in today’s D-F-L primary election. Hamline University analyst David Schultz says Smith will likely win the primary, not only because of her D-F-L endorsement but also some Democrats are skeptical of Painter. He says, “Richard Painter was the ethics attorney for President [George W.] Bush. I think there are some Democrats who are wary of voting for him, thinking he may be a turncoat or not a reliable Democrat.”
The Painter campaign says D-F-L Party bosses are more pre-occupied with self-preservation than endorsing candidates who reflect the views of Minnesota Democrats. The campaign adds Painter will caucus with Democrats and on all of the issues, his positions are those of the vast majority of Democratic voters.