T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter

The chin rubbing phase for Sen. Michele Bachmann may be over.

Bachmann, a two-term Stillwater Republican serving District 52, has been considered a potential Sixth District congressional candidate to replace Rep. Mark Kennedy if the congressman, as expected, challenges Sen. Mark Dayton, D, in 2006.

Bachmann has moved from the speculative to the more concrete.

If the Sixth District Republican congressional seat opens up, sheíll act, Bachmann said.

ìIím seriously forming an exploratory committee to look at my bid for the Sixth District congressional seat,î she said.

ìIím exploring the possibility of running in the Sixth ó maybe thatís more accurate,î she said.

ìThe question will be whether Iíll remain here serving in the Senate, if the people want me to, or will I move on to work in the Sixth District,î Bachmann said.

ìSo we will see,î she said.

Same-sex author

Bachmann has gained extensive media coverage as the Senate author of the controversial constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Earlier in her legislative career, she gained the limelight as an outspoken critic of the Profile of Learning.

Indeed, Bachmann couches a possible run for the Congress on education, arguing against federal control of schools in favor of local control.

A tax attorney in her private life, Bachmann and her of husband of 26 years, Marcus, have five children while having taken in a total of 23 foster children.

ìBy the time I would go to Congress, we would have three children in college, two in junior high,î said Bachmann of biological children.

She believes serving in Congress actually may allow her more time at home than serving in St. Paul.

Others watching

Bill Amberg, DFL State Party director of communications and research, said a Bachmann congressional bid wouldnít surprise him.

ìSheís always been a very, very ambitious politician,î Amberg said, adding that while Bachmann is pleasant sheís also extremely conservative.

While Bachmann will closely watching Kennedy, other potential Republican Sixth District candidates will be, too.

The list of potential candidates cited by pundits includes former Pawlenty education commissioner Cheri Pearson Yecke and Rep. Jim Knoblach, R-St.Cloud, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

ìHeís in the hunt,î said Rep. Andy Westerberg, R-Blaine, of Knoblach.

Besides Yecke and Knoblach, Rep. Phil Krinkie, R-Shoreview, who chairs the House Tax Committee and who recently purchased property in Lino Lakes, in the Sixth District, is also a potential candidate.

ìWhat Iím doing is keeping my options open,î said Krinkie, who remains a Shoreview resident.

There has been speculation Krinkie lacks the fire to undergo a grueling congressional race. Not so, Krinkie counters.

ìIf I made the decision, they can believe Iíll have the fire,î Krinkie said.

ìAsk Carl Pohlad (Twins owner) how Iím doing,î said Krinkie, a fierce critic of publicly funded stadium.

The decision is now really more Kennedyís than his, Krinkie said.

Other potential Republican candidates include Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer, of Big Lake, and Sen. David Kleis, R-St. Cloud.

ìAll the names I've heard floated around are wonderful people,î Bachmann said. ìIt gives the delegates to the convention a great choice. And I hope to be their favorite ó if we progress that far.î

DFL possibilities

While questions remain about a possible replacement for Kennedy on the Republican ticket, the same questions remain on the DFL side.

Last election, child safety advocate Patty Wetterling, of St. Joseph, challenged Kennedy for Congress, losing by about eight points.

Wetterling, who since the election has done extensive travelling and has taken the longest ìlullî from activity in 15 years, is noncommittal about running for Congress again.

ìIím looking at the whole world as full of possibilities,î Wetterling said.

Is there is a timeframe for a decision?

ìNot for me,î she said.

Wetterling said she would not challenge Dayton for the DFL endorsement for U.S. Senate.

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