The 2006 DFL candidate for governor Mike Hatch is supporting Mark Dayton in this year's race.
"I did send out a letter for Mark. We're having a fundraiser a week from Saturday," Hatch said Monday. When Hatch was commerce commissioner under former Gov. Rudy Perpich, Dayton was economic development commissioner. "I've known him for 30 years...I think he can do a great job."
Hatch said his decision had nothing to do with DFL-endorsed candidate Margaret Anderson Kelliher. He said he decided to support Dayton a while ago but he wanted to "stand back and defer" for a while.
"I've known him a long time. I've had a good feeling about him. I know he knows the job," Hatch said of Dayton.
Hatch famously wrassled with DFLer Matt Entenza back in 2006, when Entenza did opposition research on Hatch. At the time, Hatch was then the state's attorney general and preparing to run for governor. Entenza was in the Minnesota House and preparing to run for attorney general. Entenza initially denied having the research done but then said the research into Hatch went far beyond his original intent.
But, while politicos have watched for signs that Hatch may get involved to thwart Entenza's 2010 run for governor, Hatch Monday denied any such plans.
"I'm not doing anything about that. No. N-O. I'll stay out of it. We'll leave that alone," Hatch said. "The public can figure out for itself."
