The last of an impressive series of 30 (or so) political performances is set for 4 p.m. today. Once more, this state's three major-party candidates for governor will take the stage and make their bids for votes on Tuesday.
It's been a commendable run. Republican Tom Emmer, Independence candidate Tom Horner and DFLer Mark Dayton have done themselves credit by engaging in an old-style campaign -- heavy on shoe-leather and appearances, light (relatively speaking) on misleading smears and emotional sideshows. Compared to the mudbath of the 2008 U.S. Senate campaign and the hostilities on display this fall in other states, this election's marquee Minnesota contest has been almost genteel.
Negative ads aren't absent from this race -- far from it. While the candidates have stayed mostly above board, the parties and interest groups independent of the candidates' operations have done their worst with all the tired tricks -- grainy gray photos, out-of-context quotes and faux outrage.
But likely because of the many debates -- and increasing voter savvy -- the ads appear to be counting for less this year. A surprisingly large share of this state's voters have either met the three leading gubernatorial candidates in person or have watched them speak at length via video. Debate watchers have been exposed to calm, earnest conversations about how best to spur the economy and solve the fiscal problem that confronts state and local governments.
As a result, Minnesotans are better informed about the difficult work that lies ahead. And Tuesday's winner will be better able to govern.
Almost a year ago, Horner (who has this newspaper's endorsement) began his exploratory campaign by faulting state leaders for clinging too firmly to old positions and their respective partisan allegiances in the face of a brewing fiscal crisis. The result, he said, was a "stunning lack of innovation" in a state once considered one of the nation's best laboratories for public-sector betterment.
Horner, Dayton and Emmer have shown what a good campaign can do to position the next governor to behave differently. No matter who wins on Tuesday, he will arrive in office with the assurance that a sizable share of Minnesotans understand their state's predicament. This campaign ends with Minnesotans braced for change, even the kind that pinches their own pocketbooks, and equipped to stay in dialogue with their elected officials as decisions are made in St. Paul.
Dayton has often mentioned that the late Gov. Rudy Perpich had a sign in his office that read: "None of us is as smart as all of us." Dayton, who served Perpich twice as a commissioner, said the slogan was Perpich's reminder to reach across party lines for ideas and to stay connected with average Minnesotans.
