"Family Values," that tried and true Republican battle cry shouted every election for the past quarter century, is an ever -present weapon in Mark Kennedy's arsenal, as the final weeks of the 2006 U.S. Senate race heat up.
"In this race, the differences are huge...they affect our lives, our future," said Congressman Mark Kennedy, who portrays his opponent Amy Klobuchar as a big-spending liberal with leftist views on abortion, gay marriage and crime.
Kennedy preached to the choir Oct. 5 in Perham, for a room of nearly 20 smiling, head-nodding, Republicans gathered at Lakes Cafe.
Kennedy spun stories about his mother reading newspaper clippings to the Kennedy kids in his hometown of Pequot Lakes. He stressed the importance of family, and that the Republicans are best suited to protect families. He reaffirmed his anti-abortion stand. He reaffirmed his opposition to gun control. He said the sorts of things that modern-day Republican party actives want to hear.
There was optimism in the air as Kennedy urged Republicans to erect campaign signs, knock on doors, and ring telephones. But it was a guarded optimism. By most polls, the Kennedy-Klobuchar race will be tight to the bitter end.
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"That one line on her TV ads seems to be resonating: 'Shame on you, Mark Kennedy,'" said a Kennedy supporter about one of the crime-related TV ads Klobuchar has been airing. Those short, sweet messages can stick like glue during a whirlwind campaign. "Viewers may not remember anything but that 'shame on you' line."
"The Democrats are very good at muddying the waters," said Kennedy, who counters that commercial with "shame on you, Amy Klobuchar." After all, said Kennedy, she is the Hennepin County Attorney who has been "letting career criminals out of prison."
The crime rate in Minneapolis is up 35 percent, said Kennedy, during the time span that Klobuchar has been in office.
"You are two times as likely to get murdered in Minneapolis as you are in New York City, on a per capita basis," said Kennedy.
Prescription drug policy is another "wedge issue" that Klobuchar is capitalizing on, said Kennedy. Her plan is based on the Veterans Administration model, under which many drugs aren't even covered, said Kennedy, contending that the Republican plan covers the widest range.
Taxing and spending issues were also touched on by Kennedy.
"When the liberals say they want to soak the rich, it's the middle class that gets hit," said Kennedy, who claims Klobuchar favors a $1.5 trillion tax increase. "That's three times (former President) Clinton's tax increases."
Kennedy also blasted Klobuchar for what he contends is her support of social security benefits for illegal aliens. "This will place billions of dollars of stress on a system that is already stressed."
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"Creativity" in improving education and welfare policies will be best fostered at the state level--rather than "regulation-heavy plans handed down from the federal government," said Kennedy.
"Let the states find different ways to educate children...by providing the tools to find creative solutions."
Bush's anti-terrorism initiatives were defended.
"We've gone five years without an attack. Nobody thought that would happen, and we've broken up several plans by terrorists."
But overall, Kennedy's appearance in Perham was more a pep rally to get out the vote.
"I won my first race (for the U.S. House of Representatives) by 155 votes. I'm lucky I came from a large Irish family with lots of voters," he laughed.
"Races are tight in this state, it will be down to the wire...In mid-term elections, there isn't the same focus as a presidential election--voter turnout will be critical."
