Word: rolvaag
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...with Keith so vulnerable did the Democrats refuse to endorse Rolvaag in June? The roots of their decision to dump the Governor go back to the early '60's -- the golden days of Minnesota politics...
...most rampant Republican rumors allege that the Democrats calculated they had no chance and preferred to sacrifice Rolvaag rather than a promising young man like State Attorney General Walter Mondale (now U.S. Senator). It's more likely that Rolvaag, lieutenant governor for the last eight years, seemed the strongest candiate despite his inability to stir up anyone's enthusiasm...
...Rolvaag didn't really win the 1962 election; Anderson lost it with a campaign that even he privately admitted was remarkably inept. Anderson had won in 1960 largely because of the votes he picked up in the traditionally Democratic iron ranges in the state's far north. In 1962 Anderson foolishly attacked a northern Minnesota DFL congressman -- John Blatnik -- so sacrosanct that he is running this year without opposition...
...Rolvaag won by 91 votes out of more than 1,200,000 cast -- and that was after a four-month recount. The victory soured as soon as Minnesotans became convinced that the Democratic charges about Highway 35 were fabricated. Rolvaag's showing in public opinion polls was abysmal -- often fewer than 40 per cent indicated approval...
...Rolvaag's record as governor has been good and getting better. At first his skirmishes with holdover Anderson appointees who refused to resign made him seem ineffectual. But in 1964 and 1965 he accumulated a strong list of legislative achievements including better mental illness programs, a fair-employment act, and a system of state junior colleges. Rolvaag has delighted Democrats and infuriated conservatives with his rigid opposition to a state sales tax and flashed impressive. executive power this spring by vetoing a legislative redistricting bill and getting a new version which he signed within two weeks...