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	GUBERNATORIAL COMPETITION? A look at the possible challengers to Gov. Jesse Ventura in 2002: The first to jump into the race was state Auditor Judi Dutcher, who registered a campaign finance committee in April. Party activists say Dutcher has been working hard for party support by traveling the state and meeting with potential convention delegates. Many party activists have already committed to supporting Dutcher's campaign, and some political observers think Dutcher is the Democrats' best chance to unseat Gov. Jesse Ventura, should he decide to run again. Dutcher's potential weakness is the carpetbagger claim; she defected from the Republican Party a year earlier, which makes her suspect among some DFLers. State Sen. Becky Lourey of Kerrick took a step toward becoming a gubernatorial candidate earlier this month when she registered a campaign finance committee. Lourey is considered one of the more liberal voices in the Senate, and appeals to many party activists who like her enthusiasm and the work she's done on early childhood education and other issues. Observers say she may have a hard time finding support off the Iron Range. Minneapolis attorney Michael Ciresi, the state's lead attorney in the tobacco trial, is also considering a gubernatorial bid. Ciresi entered politics for the first time last year with an unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate. Ciresi is viewed as a formidable candidate with significant financial resources who finished second behind Mark Dayton in the DFL primary. The only Republican to register a campaign finance committee is Twin Cities entrepreneur Brian Sullivan, who has said he will not run if he doesn't get the GOP endorsement. House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty is also considering a bid.

But Hatch says at this point, he's planning to run for a second term as attorney general. "I ran for governor, it's a great job, but I do like being attorney general," he says. "I think we are doing a lot of good things with this office. If I felt that, if it came a time where I thought that, it would be more appropriate to go run for governor, I'd do it, but I'm not at that stage anymore."

Hatch is also well aware that no Minnesota attorney general has successfully challenged a sitting governor. Many observers think Hatch's plans might change if Gov. Ventura decides not to run again, but Ventura says he won't announce his re-election plans until next summer.

Many Democrats hope Hatch decides to seek a second term, regardless of Ventura's plans. Longtime DFL activist Gerry Boice says the talk among executive committee members a couple of weeks ago was that Hatch should run for re-election. "A lot of the activists that I talked to will definitely support Mike for attorney general. Of course there is rumor about him filing for governor; there's people already that have tossed their hats in the ring, and some of the activists have aligned up with Judi Dutcher and are working very hard for her," according to Boice.

Boice has already committed to support state Auditor Dutcher for governor. Other Democrats considering gubernatorial bids are State Sen. Becky Lourey of Kerrick and Minneapolis attorney Mike Ciresi. No DFLers have talked about challenging Hatch if he decides to run for a second term, and even Democrats who have been at odds with Hatch in the past seem supportive of his work as attorney general.

Former DFL-endorsed gubernatorial candidate Mike Freeman, who backed Hatch's Republican opponent Charlie Weaver in 1998, says he's been upset with Hatch over the years when Hatch ran against endorsed candidates. "I think all those things are in the past. I think Mike has done a good job as attorney general, and I don't anticipate any challenge from me or anyone else in the party as to his seeking re-election as attorney general," Freeman said.

Freeman says Hatch is viewed as one of the principle leaders of the DFL Party. He was the party's top vote getter for statewide office in 1998, and Freeman says Hatch is their best shot at keeping a constitutional office.

Two other Democrats serve as constitutional officers, but state treasurer Carol Johnson's office is being abolished after this term, and state auditor Dutcher will be on the ballot for governor.

Given Hatch's statewide name recognition and penchant for picking hot-button issues, many observers think he would have a fairly easy re-election bid. But at least one Republican is already planning to challenge Hatch. Minneapolis lawyer Tom Kelly says Hatch is beatable.

"I think what makes him weak is he makes enemies everywhere he goes. He has made a long trail of enemies for 15 years in politics and government in Minnesota, and I think there are a lot of people who would like to see him retired, as I would," said Kelly.

Kelly says he'll campaign on the theme that the state needs an attorney general more interested in enforcing the law than getting his name in the paper. Hatch isn't fazed by Kelly's charge, and says if he does his job right, people will criticize him.

"If it's controversial, so be it. That's OK. People want to be provoked, they want to think about what their government does and doesn't do. There's been too much stagnation, too much playing it safe," Hatch says.

That's one thing Hatch has never been accused of. The 53-year-old says he'll continue to work on issues he believes in, including health care, and says no matter what he decides to do next year, he'll be too busy working to do much campaigning.