Wellstone's World



WELLSTONE'S WORLD


An Alternate History


“Wellstone's rise and decline to power is amazing. In fact, I think it was the most amazing phenomenon that has ever happened in American history. They say he shouldn't have been elected, and they were absolutely right. But that doesn't make it any less miraculous.”



    • Barack Obama


“Let's get out there and win! Let's go out there and show Norm Coleman that Minnesotans don't want the policies of the past. No, they want the policies that are key to the future!”



    • Sen. Paul Wellstone campaigning for re-election, Oct. 25 2002




United States Midterm Elections, 2002




United States House of Representatives Elections (435 Seats up for Election)


Republicans: 229 (+8)
Democrats: 204 (-7)


Speaker-Elect: Incumbent Dennis Hastert (Republican-Illinois)
Republican Leader: Incumbent Dennis Hastert (Republican-Illinois)
Democratic Leader: Incumbent Dick Gephardt (Democrat-Missouri)




United States Senate Elections, 2002 (33 Seats up for Election)


Republicans: 50 (+1)
Democrats: 50 (-1)


Incumbent Senate Majority Leader: Trent Lott (Republican-Mississippi)
Senate Majority Leader-Elect: Bill Frist (Republican-Tennessee)
Senate Minority Leader-Elect: Tom Daschle (Democrat-South Dakota)




Minnesota Senate Election, 2002


Incumbent Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) – 54% PV
St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman – 45% PV


Incumbent Senator: Paul Wellstone (D-MN)
Senator-Elect: Paul Wellstone (D-MN)
Seat Change: None




Minnesota Gubernatorial Election, 2002


State House Minority Leader Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) – 43.4% PV
State House Majority Leader Roger Moe (D-MN) – 41.9% PV
Former State House Rep. Tim Penny (I-MN) – 14.7% PV


Incumbent Governor: Jesse Ventura (I-MN)
Governor-Elect: Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)


“I have to say that my margin of victory for re-election in 2002 was excellent. Norm Coleman, I have to admit, was a very tough challenger, in that he rallied Minnesota Republicans to his side. Throughout my political career, I have fought very tough fights. I fought the incumbent, Rudy Boschwitz when I first ran in 1990, and I won by a narrow margin. Six years later, Boschwitz ran again, and I defeated him and an independent narrowly. And this year, I beat the Mayor of St. Paul narrowly. I'm prepared for more tough fights ahead, because I feel like Americans and myself are ready for it.”



    • Sen. Paul Wellstone interviewed by Minneapolis Public Radio, Dec. 2002

 
PRESIDENT BUSH: "I AM PREPARED"

The White House, November 15 2002 -
Today, about 10:00 A.M., President Bush announced at a press conference his intentions for the next two years. "I have priorities for the next two years," said the president. "The administration will wait until after the swearing in of the next Congress to work on legislation regarding the debate over Iraq. I have made my opinion shown, and I hope that Congress does what I hope it will, and that means keeping America safe."


Paul Wellstone Press Conference, Dec. 1 2002

REPORTER, CBS: "Senator, are you planning a presidential bid in 2004?"

SEN. WELLSTONE (D-MN): "That's a tough question. I'm thinking about it. What I know for certain is that I will do whatever it takes to get the Democratic candidate elected president and President Bush out of office. However, there is much to be considered to determine whether I will run for the nomination or not."
 
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