Minona Daily News - Emmer Stresses Common Roots with Supporters

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By Dustin Kass

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer stressed his connection to the difficult realities Minnesota residents face during a campaign stop Tuesday in Winona. Emmer talked about the challenges he and his wife deal with as they raise their seven children. He pointed out that, unlike Democrat Mark Dayton and Independence Party candidate Tom Horner, he is not a millionaire.

"These guys have no concept of what families are going through in the state of Minnesota," Emmer said.

Emmer and three other Republican candidates for state office - Rep. Steve Drazkowski, Jeremy Miller and Rhett Zenke - spoke to more than 45 supporters at the Winona County Republican Party headquarters. Their messages built on the idea that positive change in the state will start at the ballot boxes, the place where residents can speak the loudest.

"It's probably the most important mid-term election in our country's history," Miller said.

Emmer emphasized many of the issues that have been central parts of his campaign.

He spoke against the recently passed national health care reform law. He talked about fostering a business environment that would encourage the state's largest companies to expand in Minnesota. And he emphasized the need to slim down government.

Emmer also tried to rally supporters for the home stretch of the campaign season, saying he needed them knocking on doors and supporting the candidates.

"We have 28 days left to finish what we started," Emmer said. "We'll put Minnesota back on a path of success and give our kids a future you and I want them to have."

When asked about a poll that showed him trailing Dayton, Emmer stressed that in past elections, poll numbers have been misleading.

"Really the only poll that matters is the poll that's going to be taken Nov. 2," Emmer said.

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