By Mike Kaszuba

Dan "Doc" Severson, the Republican candidate for Minnesota Secretary of State, is taking the good news wherever he can get it.

Severson picked up the endorsement Thursday of Dick Franson, a perennial candidate for office who ran unsuccessfully Tuesday as a DFLer challenging Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. "I intend to campaign actively for Doc Severson, because we see eye to eye on the most important issues," said Franson.

Replied Severson: "I am honored to accept Dick Franson's endorsement. Dick is a man of integrity who has served our country with distinction in many ways and for many years. I look forward to having him on the team."

Franson received just over 71,000 votes in Tuesday's primary, falling well short of Ritchie's 318,685 votes. Severson, running unopposed, meanwhile had 112,956 votes.