Posted: 4/20/05
By T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar stood in the driveway of her parentís home and declared her intention to run for U.S. Senate while children watched from the branches of a nearby climbing tree.
Klobuchar made her announcement Sunday (April 17) in Plymouth.
She is the first Democrat to declare their intention to seek the position opened by Sen. Mark Daytonís decision in February not to seek reelection.
Klobuchar, 44, who has already raised some $592,000 during the first quarter of the year, said she would abide by the DFL Party endorsement.
Other potential Democratic senatorial candidates include child welfare activist Patty Wetterling, Attorney Mike Ciresi and veterinarian Ford Bell.
ěIn a race like this, people come in; people get out. Iím just focused on our own campaign,î said Klobuchar.
Klobuchar made her announcement with her nine-year-old daughter Abigail and attorney husband John at her side. Her father Jim Klobuchar is a former Twin Cities newspaper columnist and sportswriter.
In her speech, Klobuchar recounted her familyís Iron Range roots and spoke of a state tradition of hard work and diligence being rewarded. Looking to Washington, Klobuchar portrayed the federal government as turning budget surplus into deficit.
ěEvery baby born in Minnesota is now saddled with a $26,000 ëbirth taxí ń their share of the burgeoning federal debt,î said Klobuchar.
She spoke of a ěpay-as-you-goî approach to government spending, and protecting social security by not diverting money from the system.
ěWe need a Social Security system thatís a guarantee, not a gamble,î she said.
Klobuchar mentioned the need for negotiating for lower drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies.
She questioned whether tax cuts needed to be expanded to the top one percent of wage earners.
ěI think itís a good argument that we donít need to do that,í said Klobuchar.
Klobuchar is currently serving her second term as Hennepin County Attorney.
She has served as president of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association and points to the post as one that gave her a larger sense of the state.
Klobuchar is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School.
The Klobuchar campaign plans visits to Mankato and Duluth on Monday (April 18).
Republican Party of Minnesota Spokesman Michael Brodkorb characterized Klobuchar as a liberal with poor policy pertaining to law enforcement.
ěKlobuchar should be focused on doing a better job of protecting the rights and safety of the people of Hennepin County, rather than running for the U.S. Senate,î he said.
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