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St. Thomas professor joins DFL Senate race
Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer pledges a "politics of hope and courage," plans grass-roots campaign in style of Wellstone.
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The DFL contest to take on U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman just got more crowded, with Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer's formal entry into the race.
He did so at noon Wednesday, rallying supporters outside Coleman's St. Paul office.
After six months of exploring a possible Senate run, "I've found that Minnesotans have a lot of troubled dreams," Nelson-Pallmeyer said. "They've been stuck with the politics of fear and want to be able to embrace the politics of hope and courage."
Nelson-Pallmeyer, a University of St. Thomas associate professor of justice and peace studies who lives in Minneapolis, said his campaign will be patterned after the grass-roots style of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, down to the green-and-white motif of his campaign materials.
That may be a necessity in a race that features two high-profile, lavishly funded candidates, attorney Mike Ciresi and satirist Al Franken, who already have raised millions of dollars. Environmental activist Jim Cohen and frequent candidate Dick Franson round out the DFL's current field.
"This race won't be decided with bank accounts, but by the candidate who inspires people," Nelson-Pallmeyer said. Asked how much money he had raised, Nelson-Pallmeyer said he had received promises of donations that added up to $190,000.
He said he plans to file his candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission in the next week or so.
"It's absolutely a wide-open race and I like my chances," he said. As the other DFLers in the race have, Nelson-Pallmeyer said he will abide by the party's endorsement process.
A fierce critic of the Iraq war, Nelson-Pallmeyer said he also will focus on environmental issues, health care and the federal budget.
Nelson-Pallmeyer made his initial foray into politics last year, when he planned to challenge incumbent Fifth District Rep. Martin Sabo, who Nelson-Pallmeyer said was not doing enough to end the Iraq war.
After Sabo unexpectedly announced his retirement, Nelson-Pallmeyer found himself in a crowded Democratic endorsement fight and was eclipsed by state Rep. Keith Ellison, who went on to win the seat.
Bob von Sternberg • 612-673-7184
Bob Von Sternberg • vonste@startribune.com
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