"Danger Zone" Severson gets GOP nomination for Secretary of State

State Rep. Dan Severson was endorsed Saturday to take on Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, a Democrat.

"Let me say two works about the importance of his office: Coleman-Franken," said former Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer in nominated Severson.

It was the first of many references to the tight as a vice Senate race that conferred a 312-vote victory upon now Democratic U.S. Sen. Al Franken, ousting former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, a Republican. While the state Supreme Court and a three judge panel all examined and approved the win, many Republicans focus their ire at their loss on Ritchie.

"That was a bad election in 2008. People have a reason to doubt it," said Severson, who entered and exited the Republican convention stage to the song "Danger Zone."

Severson said Ritchie was able to beat Kiffmeyer in 2006 because ACORN and other left wing groups worked to place Democrats in charge of Secretaries of States offices.

"That was by design," Severson said.

And here for your convention musical interlude:

Here's what DFL chair Brian Melendez had to say about Severson:

"The Secretary of State's most important duty is protecting the citizens' right to vote — that crown jewel of liberty that safeguards all other rights. But Dan Severson would toss up barriers to citizens voting. His rhetoric is disrespectful to the hard-working election officials who, county by county, community by community, shepherd our democratic processes. Severson is a radical partisan who is unsuited to the office of Secretary of State.

"Minnesotans deserve a Secretary of State who cares about maintaining our fair and secure election system and who will work to make sure that all eligible voters can cast their ballots. Dan Severson is not that person. Severson evidently cares a great deal about flinging baseless accusations in a vain quest to rewrite the history of the 2008 recount, but cares very little about maintaining the fair and transparent processes that made that recount a success."

Update II: