GOP slams Dayton, says Emmer more like Perpich, sort of

Republicans on Wednesday went after DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton's job-creation record when he worked for the state more than 20 years ago.

Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Tony Sutton said Dayton's record as commissioner of economic development was "a failure," marked by waste and exaggerated claims of success.

Republicans held a news confrence to react to Dayton's ads touting his experience with job-creation. "We are going to let people know the truth about his record," Sutton said.

Dayton's camp immediately defended his record and said GOP leaders are showing their desperation with less than two weeks before the election.

"This is another desperate attempt by the Republicans to smear Mark and distort his excellent record of public service," said Dayton campaign manager Dana Anderson.

Dayton's team sent out copies of decades-old letters from business leaders who thanked Dayton or his office for helping with loans and other assistance.

"The thousands of jobs Mark helped create as commissioner of economic development were the result of hard work and good policy, and many of the companies he helped have grown and prospered in Minnesota, continuing to employ Minnesotans today," Anderson said.

In one news report, Dayton apologized to legislators for overstating job creation figures. Another report chronicled Dayton's push for a 291 percent budget increase for his agency over two years, a request Perpich rejected.

"One could almost imagine Rudy Perpich today rejecting Mark Dayton's multi-billion dollar tax plan and instead endorsing Tom Emmer's call to make government live within its mean and provide tax relief for job growth," Sutton said.