The Minnesota Independence Party has a message for Republicans: Our doors are open.

The IP announced this morning that they "welcome" GOPers who have been temporarily banned from Republican Party activities for supporting Horner.

IP chair Jack Uldrich accused GOP chair Tony Sutton of using Arne Carlson, Al Quie and Dave Durenberger as a "scapegoat" for Emmer's performance in the election.

"Sutton tacitly is admitting that the Republican agenda has become so narrow that the vote of many Minnesotans who traditionally have voted for the GOP candidate simply aren't available to a party being crafted by Sutton in the image of Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin."

Uldrich added that the IP has grown past the point of "taking" votes from either the left or the right.

"It is the DFL and GOP who took votes from Horner. And Tony Sutton is acknowledging as much with his actions. He is kicking out of the GOP those who already have left today's Republican extremism."