Arne Carlson on board for Horner

By Mike Kaszuba

In front of the State Capitol, former Gov. Arne Carlson formally endorsed Independence Party candidate Tom Horner and came close Monday to predicting victory for Horner. "Once they pay attention," Carlson said, referring to Minnesota's voters, "I guarantee you a landslide to this gentleman."

Carlson followed Horner off a maroon and white tour bus, which had parked in front of the State Capitol and deposited roughly three-dozen, sign-carrying Horner supporters into the glistening sun. One supporter carried a "Welcome Arne" sign, and former Rep. Neil Peterson, a Bloomington Republican, watched as Horner and Carlson spoke to the crowd. "I'm on board," said Peterson.

Saying he did not want to "sit on the sidelines", Carlson described the three-way gubernatorial race as the most critical election of his lifetime. He said he was endorsing not only Horner's candidacy, but also Horner's budgetary ideas, including his proposal to broaden the state sales tax. While he praised both DFLer Mark Dayton and Republican Tom Emmer -- he called Emmer "a good man" -- he said the two gubernatorial candidates were pushing economic policies that would fail.

"I honestly believe you cannot tax your way to success -- it won't work," said Carlson, referring to Dayton's budget plan.

Of Emmer's proposals, the former governor added: "On the other hand, you can't cut your way to success."

Carlson also took aim at conservative Republicans, who have claimed that the former governor is no longer a Republican because of some of his more moderate political stances. "Of course, I'm a Republican," he said. "[But] we got to stop this demonization of people with whom we disagree, I mean it.

Carlson said that if he had endorsed Emmer's gubernatorial bid, state Republicans would have hailed him as "the most magnificent governor in the history of the state of Minnesota."

Horner said Carlson brought "a new audience" to his campaign, which had Carlson accompany Horner at campaign stops Monday in Rochester, St. Paul and St. Cloud. But Horner, curiously, fell short of saying Carlson would bring Republican voters to his campaign. He said that once voters saw Carlson was supporting him they would likely say, "Wait a second, if somebody like Gov. Carlson. . .is willing to put his credibility, his reputation on the line, maybe I ought to pay attention to this guy."