MSNBC "The Ed Show" - Transcript

Interview

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I`m joined tonight by Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison.

Congressman, good to have you with us tonight. Appreciate your time.

It`s always interesting to see what happens in Minnesota, because the pendulum can shift. What do you make of Rick Santorum and his polling right now? You know, it seems to me the same people that did it for him down in Iowa are showing up in Minnesota. And the last time I checked, that state is just a stone`s throw away.

What do you make of what`s unfolding?

REP. KEITH ELLISON (D), MINNESOTA: Well, one thing about Rick Santorum is that he believes what he says he believes. And in Minnesota, whether the conservatives like us liberals or progressives, prides
authenticity. And that`s something that Romney simply lacks.

SCHULTZ: You are speaking volumes, my friend.

Let me tell you about Newt Gingrich last night at this event. He walks in, he speaks, he says "vote for me, see you later" and walks out, does no retail politic whatsoever. I was really stunned by that. He didn`t interact with the people, maybe the guy is on such an unbelievably tight schedule, he doesn`t have time for the people.

On the other hand, Rick Santorum is the guy of retail politics, the guy who was going town-to-town, bus stop to bus stop, both in Iowa and in Minnesota. And look at the poll numbers. I think what you`re saying is
exactly correct, Congressman.

So, how unique is this electorate? And if you take that style of politicking, you look at Santorum at 33, Romney at 24 -- where does President Obama fit in with this style of politicking? Because President
Obama is not the kind of guy to walk in a room and say, "Hey, how is it going, vote for me" and take off. Sort that out for us.

ELLISON: Well, let me tell you, I mean, first of all, I am at Susan B. Anthony Middle School in southwest Minneapolis. We`re happy to be here. And the folks are excited. We`re at precinct caucuses.

And President Obama is great with folks one on one. He is warm. He walks to people, he talks to them, and he actually takes a minute to listen.

So, I think he`s going to do really well here. You should know, after he nailed down the number of Electoral College delegates in the last election, his first stop was in St. Paul, Minnesota, because he knows this
is Obama territory.

People here do believe in the idea that everybody counts, everybody matters. This is the home of Wellstone. We all do better when we all do better.

So, I think Obama is going to do just fine right here in Minnesota.

SCHULTZ: Well, I did run in a number of people in the last couple days who were anti-Obama but they don`t know who they want to vote for on the conservative side. Is there enough --

ELLISON: We got some of those, too.

SCHULTZ: Yes, I know. Is that anti-Obama sentiment enough to carry Minnesota for the Republicans?

ELLISON: No way. Let me tell you -- as I talk to folks all over and again, I`m here at Susan B. Anthony Middle School where folks are fired up. On a night when we have our candidate already locked in, we have a full room, people are still coming in to be part of the Democratic precinct caucuses.

This is because we have a high degree of enthusiasm. People are excited.

We have seen Republicans in the majority of the House. All they can do is attack the EPA. They have no solutions around jobs. They`ve caused almost shutdowns, default. They`re going to default on America`s debt. And people are sick of it.

We`re in a progressive moment, and therefore in Minnesota, people are ready to hear what the president is having to say.

And I will say, President Obama has struck a new chord. He is hitting his stride. He`s tried to work with them a few years ago, that didn`t work out. They didn`t want to work together.

So, he is now on the march talking about jobs, investment, infrastructure.

SCHULTZ: Yes.

ELLISON: He`s talking about human rights. And so, I think we`re all right. I think we`re in good stead.

SCHULTZ: Congressman Keith Ellison, good to have us with us tonight. Appreciate your time.

Now, let`s turn to MSNBC --

ELLISON: Ed, thank you.

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