What is the value of the GOP endorsement?
Karen Boothe, 5/31/96

As Minnesota Republican Party delegates gather for the state convention in Duluth, high on their agenda is; endorsing a candidate for U.S. Senate. It's no secret, that Bert McKasy is expected to WIN the endorsement. But McKasy will find himself running NOT SO MUCH against Democratic incumbent Paul Wellstone before the primary, but against fellow Republican Rudy Boschwitz who will not honor the endorsement process.

Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports on what VALUE an endorsement holds and how Boschwitz' decision affects party unity.

First, the real VALUE of winning a party endorsement is the MONEY it brings to one's campaign. Second, it provides a good amount of legitimacy...MANY donors are more likely to contribute to an endorsed candidates' campaign fund.

Rudy Boschwitz, who's thumbing his nose at the endorsement process, doesn't believe convention delegates fairly represent the wishes of the majority of state Republicans...The Majority of whom, he believes, are more moderate than the social conservatives who dominate grassroots republican activism and the make-up of the convention delegates. Jon Lerner is campaign manager for Boschwitz. He says while Boscwitz would LIKE to get the endorsement, he believes it's more important to give ALL Republican voters the chance to voice their preference:

Bite:#6527 endorse 1 :19-secs "the Republican way."

But Bert McKasy is trying to appeal to both social conservatives and moderates. If he succeeds in casting just enough conservative light on his campaign to win the hearts of mostly social conservative delegates at the convention, but doesn't go so far as to disenchant more MODERATE Republicans, then he could win the party primary in September. Even with THAT analysis, McKasy Campaign spokesman Pat Rosensteil (rosen-steel) rejects the notion that the delegation is that far right on the political spectrum. In fact, he says, McKasy has won over delegates because of his stand on economic issues, not social issues:

Bite:#6532 endorse #2 :12-secs "in Minnesota." Rosensteil downplays a recent poll by Minnesota Public Radio, KARE-11 and the Pioneer Press showing Boschwitz way ahead of McKasy in voter preference and name recognition. He says once the convention is over...their campaign strategy will shift from winning over the DELEGATES to winning over the at-large republican VOTERS in time for the primary. When McKasy secures the endorsement, he can put the money that comes along with it, to good use. He'll also have all the OTHER advantages of things like mailing lists, campaign stops by big names either from Washington or HOLLYWOOD, party faithful who practically live and breathe volunteerism AND party machinery.

So...how does the competition between McKasy and Boschwitz PLAY to republican voters? Some analysts say most voters don't really care if a candidate side-steps the endorsement process....and that it bothers the party faithful, the delegates and party leaders such as party Chairman Chris Georgacas:

Bite:#6536 endorse #3 :24-secs "disappointed me." Georgacas is ALSO among those who reject ANY suggestion that the convention delegates present a dilemma for the state Republican party because they represent the "far right's" forces. WITH that, he contends that WHO the delegates choose to favor, and endorse....will sit well with at-large Republican voters TOO. Of course, only the outcome of the PRIMARY will tell.

If there's ANY lesson here to the vote value an endorsement carries....one ONLY has to think of the support delegates gave Alan Quist two years ago. Quist not only HANDEDLY won the endorsment at the convention, but he won the clout, the legitimacy and the MONEY that goes with it. Even so, he later lost in a landslide to Governor Arne Carlson when HE sidestepped the convention to seek the primary election.

SOC