BROOKINGS, Biereland -- Fresh off an unexpected endorsement from Biereland's largest newspaper, Independent gubernatorial candidate Bob Kozzy is feeling energized as he heads into the final two weeks of the campaign.
The endorsement from the Greene Mountain Press (GMP) was a much-needed boost for Kozzy (pronounced "cause-ee"), who is running in a three-way race against incumbent Gov. San Bartholomew (N) and Conservative Ben Jordan, who is the state's attorney general.
In its endorsement editorial, the GMP said it was throwing its support to Kozzy because it couldn't in good conscience support the two main party candidates because of their fierce partisanship.
"Both San Bartholomew and Ben Jordan have carried out their current jobs using extreme partisanship. Right now more than ever before, Biereland needs bipartisanship and cooperation at the state capitol in Brookings," the paper wrote.
The paper also blamed Bartholomew for a sluggish economy and picking fights with Conservative lawmakers in the legislature over environmental protection laws and gun restrictions.
"The fact is, San Bartholomew promised to jump-start the economy, and yet the economy in Biereland remains stagnant. During the 2010 campaign, Bartholomew criticized then-Governor Jenny Duschowitz for presiding over a slow-moving economy, and still, unemployment remains high, job creation has been painfully slow, and Bierelanders continue to struggle. The governor has also used much of his political capital to force through controversial legislation on environmental regulations and gun restrictions. While the motivation behind these laws is commendable, the partisan and contentious manner in which they were passed was wrong."
On Ben Jordan, the GMP had strong feelings about his partisan and vindictive demeanor.
"While Ben Jordan has a strong resume, and has held a tough line on crime during his tenure as a prosecutor and attorney general, his overall record skews heavily to the right. More disconcerting though is the aggressively partisan manner in which he's conducted his campaign. His brand of in-your-face conservatism might endear him to the right, but it wouldn't be conducive to a fair-minded governorship."
The paper also questioned Jordan's economic plan, saying that cutting taxes and spending would not be enough to spur the economy.
Bob Kozzy, the paper noted, is a proven bipartisan leader. During his short stint as a Conservative federal senator, he frequently worked with Nationalists on a range of bills. And his views, which Kozzy has admitted are more libertarian than either conservative or liberal, are popular with people from all points of the political spectrum.
His fiscally conservative but socially moderate positions are more in line with Bierelanders', and his choice of another former federal senator, Michael Kreighorn, as his running mate shows Kozzy is committed to bringing bipartisanship to Brookings.
"Bob Kozzy and Michael Kreighorn are the best candidates to reform Brookings, to bring genuine bipartisanship to the state capitol, and they are the only candidates who have presented a detailed plan of how they would handle the economy, which is the dominant issue during this election cycle," said the GMP.
Specifically, Kozzy's plan calls for cutting taxes for low and middle-income families and individuals, while maintaining taxes where they are on large corporations, but cutting taxes for small businesses.
Kozzy has also promised to cut spending across the board by 5%, but only after consulting with department heads to make sure the cuts are as painless as possible.
The GMP did acknowledge, however, that Kozzy isn't a perfect candidate.
They cited his occasional angry outbursts, which have occurred during recent debates. The paper chocked up his emotional outbursts to his impassioned views, calling it "righteous indignation."
Kozzy also has few allies in the state legislature or with national party leaders, so he may lack the influence that both Bartholomew and Jordan already have.
Kozzy also has no managerial experience, something his opponents also both have on their resumes.
"We do have reservations about Bob Kozzy. He is far from perfect, but he is the best choice for Biereland at this pivotal time in our state's history," the paper declared.
It wasn't a glowing endorsement, but it was an endorsement nonetheless, and that has the Kozzy campaign feeling optimistic heading into the final two weeks of the race.
"We are honored to have the Greene Mountain Press' endorsement," Kozzy told reporters Saturday at a campaign stop.
The Jordan and Bartholomew campaigns downplayed the endorsement, pointing out that newspaper endorsements usually have little influence on voters' choices.
Each campaign also pointed to endorsements they received from other newspapers across the state.
The Ferriston Harbinger endorsed Bartholomew, as did the Welhausen Liberal-Union, the Coxon County Herald, and the Cedarie Outlook.
Ben Jordan wracked up the most endorsements, including from the state's second-largest newspaper, The Bierelander of Sebotnie, the Auburne Republic, the Avondale Royal Tidings, and the Farnham Daily News.
Jordan was also backed by the Twin Cities Tribune of Dorchester-Gerbannon, the Barringer Beacon, the Kensington Emissary, and the Courier General of Mecklinburg-Atterbearn.
Overall, newspaper endorsements, and endorsements in general, matter very little. Most voters will make up their own minds. And other than the Greene Mountain Press' surprise endorsement of Kozzy, there have been no other unexpected endorsements in this year's gubernatorial campaign.
All of the state's prominent Nationalists are backing Bartholomew, all prominent Conservatives are supporting Jordan, and no major statewide political figures are backing Kozzy at this time, though he does have the support of a handful of mayors and local officials.
The most recent poll released this weekend by ITS Strategies finds Bartholomew and Jordan neck-and-neck for first place, with Jordan leading 41% to Bartholomew's 40%, and Kozzy's 18%.
The poll suggests no candidate will reach the necessary 45% to win. If that's the case following the general election on December 2, the top two candidates will face a run-off election January 5, 2015 to determine the next governor.
The endorsement from the Greene Mountain Press (GMP) was a much-needed boost for Kozzy (pronounced "cause-ee"), who is running in a three-way race against incumbent Gov. San Bartholomew (N) and Conservative Ben Jordan, who is the state's attorney general.
In its endorsement editorial, the GMP said it was throwing its support to Kozzy because it couldn't in good conscience support the two main party candidates because of their fierce partisanship.
"Both San Bartholomew and Ben Jordan have carried out their current jobs using extreme partisanship. Right now more than ever before, Biereland needs bipartisanship and cooperation at the state capitol in Brookings," the paper wrote.
The paper also blamed Bartholomew for a sluggish economy and picking fights with Conservative lawmakers in the legislature over environmental protection laws and gun restrictions.
"The fact is, San Bartholomew promised to jump-start the economy, and yet the economy in Biereland remains stagnant. During the 2010 campaign, Bartholomew criticized then-Governor Jenny Duschowitz for presiding over a slow-moving economy, and still, unemployment remains high, job creation has been painfully slow, and Bierelanders continue to struggle. The governor has also used much of his political capital to force through controversial legislation on environmental regulations and gun restrictions. While the motivation behind these laws is commendable, the partisan and contentious manner in which they were passed was wrong."
On Ben Jordan, the GMP had strong feelings about his partisan and vindictive demeanor.
"While Ben Jordan has a strong resume, and has held a tough line on crime during his tenure as a prosecutor and attorney general, his overall record skews heavily to the right. More disconcerting though is the aggressively partisan manner in which he's conducted his campaign. His brand of in-your-face conservatism might endear him to the right, but it wouldn't be conducive to a fair-minded governorship."
The paper also questioned Jordan's economic plan, saying that cutting taxes and spending would not be enough to spur the economy.
Bob Kozzy, the paper noted, is a proven bipartisan leader. During his short stint as a Conservative federal senator, he frequently worked with Nationalists on a range of bills. And his views, which Kozzy has admitted are more libertarian than either conservative or liberal, are popular with people from all points of the political spectrum.
His fiscally conservative but socially moderate positions are more in line with Bierelanders', and his choice of another former federal senator, Michael Kreighorn, as his running mate shows Kozzy is committed to bringing bipartisanship to Brookings.
"Bob Kozzy and Michael Kreighorn are the best candidates to reform Brookings, to bring genuine bipartisanship to the state capitol, and they are the only candidates who have presented a detailed plan of how they would handle the economy, which is the dominant issue during this election cycle," said the GMP.
Specifically, Kozzy's plan calls for cutting taxes for low and middle-income families and individuals, while maintaining taxes where they are on large corporations, but cutting taxes for small businesses.
Kozzy has also promised to cut spending across the board by 5%, but only after consulting with department heads to make sure the cuts are as painless as possible.
The GMP did acknowledge, however, that Kozzy isn't a perfect candidate.
They cited his occasional angry outbursts, which have occurred during recent debates. The paper chocked up his emotional outbursts to his impassioned views, calling it "righteous indignation."
Kozzy also has few allies in the state legislature or with national party leaders, so he may lack the influence that both Bartholomew and Jordan already have.
Kozzy also has no managerial experience, something his opponents also both have on their resumes.
"We do have reservations about Bob Kozzy. He is far from perfect, but he is the best choice for Biereland at this pivotal time in our state's history," the paper declared.
It wasn't a glowing endorsement, but it was an endorsement nonetheless, and that has the Kozzy campaign feeling optimistic heading into the final two weeks of the race.
"We are honored to have the Greene Mountain Press' endorsement," Kozzy told reporters Saturday at a campaign stop.
The Jordan and Bartholomew campaigns downplayed the endorsement, pointing out that newspaper endorsements usually have little influence on voters' choices.
Each campaign also pointed to endorsements they received from other newspapers across the state.
The Ferriston Harbinger endorsed Bartholomew, as did the Welhausen Liberal-Union, the Coxon County Herald, and the Cedarie Outlook.
Ben Jordan wracked up the most endorsements, including from the state's second-largest newspaper, The Bierelander of Sebotnie, the Auburne Republic, the Avondale Royal Tidings, and the Farnham Daily News.
Jordan was also backed by the Twin Cities Tribune of Dorchester-Gerbannon, the Barringer Beacon, the Kensington Emissary, and the Courier General of Mecklinburg-Atterbearn.
Overall, newspaper endorsements, and endorsements in general, matter very little. Most voters will make up their own minds. And other than the Greene Mountain Press' surprise endorsement of Kozzy, there have been no other unexpected endorsements in this year's gubernatorial campaign.
All of the state's prominent Nationalists are backing Bartholomew, all prominent Conservatives are supporting Jordan, and no major statewide political figures are backing Kozzy at this time, though he does have the support of a handful of mayors and local officials.
The most recent poll released this weekend by ITS Strategies finds Bartholomew and Jordan neck-and-neck for first place, with Jordan leading 41% to Bartholomew's 40%, and Kozzy's 18%.
The poll suggests no candidate will reach the necessary 45% to win. If that's the case following the general election on December 2, the top two candidates will face a run-off election January 5, 2015 to determine the next governor.
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