Cliff Buchan
News EditorDonít think the emergence of Patty Wetterling as a candidate for Congress in the Sixth District is being taken lightly by Republicans. Hardly.
A special stop in Forest Lake by Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-IL, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives last Saturday, was another sign that incumbent Congressman Mark Kennedy is bracing for a full challenge this fall.
Hastert, the third highest ranking government official in the United States, made a quick stop at Forest Lake Elementary School 90 minutes after Forest Lakeís Independence Day parade. Hastert met with Kennedy campaign workers and other candidates for office, including state Rep. Ray Vandeveer of Forest Lake, and District 52B candidate Matt Dean.
Hastert used Saturdayís visit to thank the campaign workers and applaud the job done by Kennedy, a two-term congressman who is in his first term serving the Sixth District.
Hastert, Speaker of the House since 1999, labeled Kennedy ìa rising starî in the Republican Party. ìHe (Kennedy) understands what needs to be done back home,î Hastert said.
But Hastert said the party should take nothing for granted in the fall election. Before the Nov. 2 election, Hastert said he will visit 50 key congressional districts in attempts to protect the Republican hold on its majority in the House.
Hastert hails from a congressional district 60 miles west of Chicago. He was first elected in 1986 and said his district much resembles Minnesotaís Sixth.
ìItís the same kind of folks that are here today,î Hastert said to the 50 campaign workers who took part in the Saturday parade.
He gave a special thanks to the workers for their ground support of Kennedy. ìHeís doing a great job in Congress,î Hastert said.
Kennedy expects to meet Democrat Patty Wetterling this fall. While a political first-timer, Wetterling, the mother of the still missing kidnapping victim Jacob Wetterling, has vast name recognition and is a well known advocate for missing children.
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