Disasters a perilous magnet for politicians

Forget the gawkers. It's politicians, above all, who rush headlong to the site of every bridge collapse and flash flood. And no wonder.

The potent politics of disaster have damaged many a political career. Former Chicago Mayor Michael Bilandic saw his prospects unravel when underfunded snowplow operations left the city paralyzed by a winter storm.

Rudy Giuliani parlayed his disaster management into a presidential bid, using the calm, resolute air he projected in the wake of the 9/11 attacks to transform the sharp-tongued, sometimes abrasive New Yorker into "America's Mayor."

Similar perils and potential have lately been at work in Minnesota, where an unprecedented string of disasters has left politicians with a delicate task: They must appear effective and responsive, but not opportunistic; bipartisan, but not excessively compromising.

The stakes are high even at the presidential level: Federal officials have scrambled to assure the public that Minnesota's bridge collapse and floods would not lead to another Hurricane Katrina-like morass of bureaucracy, red tape and incompetence.

Scheduled to come to town last week as a rainmaker for Sen. Norm Coleman, President Bush neglected to visit the site of floods that had swept through southeastern Minnesota. That was quickly rectified with a thorough briefing of the president before the fundraiser and moving up Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's visit to personally review recovery efforts on Thursday.

Chertoff surprised nearly everyone by announcing that Bush had agreed to expedited federal disaster relief for the flood zone less than 48 hours after Gov. Tim Pawlenty made the request.

Politics?

Yes, says national political analyst Larry Sabato. And that's a good thing.

"The system actually works better when there is politics involved," said Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. "It encourages responsiveness. What's politics about? Getting votes and winning elections. You have to be responsive for that. What do you need after a disaster? Responsiveness."

How officials score so far on the Response-O-Meter:

GOV. TIM PAWLENTY

Ever adaptable, Pawlenty has been a gubernatorial whirlwind of responsiveness, taking heat from his own party for a turn-around on the gas tax, saying he will now consider an increase. He has also been encouraging about a special session and has even leaned on the feds to hustle up disaster relief.

His hazard: Still has to answer for the Interstate 35W bridge collapse, oversee a smooth rebuilding in Minneapolis and recovery in southeastern Minnesota and prevent a special session from getting out of hand.

LT. GOV. CAROL MOLNAU

Pressure to resign her second job as transportation commissioner is bound to intensify, particularly in the wake of the health commissioner's abrupt departure and Molnau's continued opposition to light rail, signaling a growing philosophical divide with her boss. Molnau also has been slow to get in line on a gas tax increase.

Her hazard: The Senate has never reconfirmed Molnau. If they vote her down in the next session, she's gone.

SEN. NORM COLEMAN

As one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the country, Coleman has had to walk an especially fine line. A plus for him: the chance to buddy up with freshman U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, on joint legislation, statements, press releases -- all of which are prominently featured on his website.

His hazard: Same as before -- linkage to the unpopular Bush and Iraq.

AL FRANKEN AND MIKE CIRESI

With no official standing, Coleman's leading DFL challengers, attorney Mike Ciresi and humorist Al Franken, saw themselves sidelined for much of August. Both took their websites down and suspended active campaigning for a time after the bridge collapse.

Their hazard: They already sidestepped the chief one by not busting in on elected officials and leaving themselves open to grandstanding accusations. But watching Coleman stand next to Klobuchar on nightly newscasts announcing more relief for Minnesota had to hurt.

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR

Still peeling the stickers off her move-in boxes, Klobuchar has had a chance to deliver for the state, pressing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to round up senators on a disaster relief vote during the August recess. Klobuchar also uttered the most memorable line from the I-35W collapse: "A bridge in America just shouldn't fall down."

Her hazard: Collaboration with Coleman wins points among average Minnesotans, but prompt unease among partisans who are gearing up for a brutal race to unseat the Republican. Expect major pushback if the chumminess continues.

MAYOR R.T. RYBAK

Earning high marks all around for his city's smooth first response to the bridge collapse, Rybak has worked closely with Pawlenty and federal officials, quietly pushing for more light rail and state aid as part of any aid package.

His hazard: The busiest bridge in his city is in ruins, and details of how and how fast it should be replaced will become trickier and more controversial as the grieving period fades.

HENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF RICH STANEK

Freshly elected in January, Stanek was in the unique position of being thoroughly grounded in state, local and county law enforcement operations. Stanek served as Pawlenty's public safety commissioner before stepping down over controversy in 2004, later returning to his former job as a Minneapolis police captain. Stanek had deputies maintain 24/7 operations for weeks after the collapse, limiting gawkers and working with multiple agencies to speed rescue and recovery.

His hazard: Appears in the clear, having reinforced his political rehabilitation.

LEGISLATURE

After an initial no-finger-pointing period, DFL legislative leaders are becoming more blunt about the role they think Pawlenty's no-new-taxes pledge may have played in infrastructure meltdowns and their demand for new revenue to rebuild southeastern Minnesota. Now that southeastern Minnesota has been touched by tragedy as well, more Republicans are joining in.

Their hazard: It's the Legislature, which means there are 201 ways for things to go right or wrong. The main risk is that helping average Minnesotans might seem less important than scoring partisan points.

Patricia Lopez • 651-222-1288

Patricia Lopez • plopez@startribune.com