Speed Gibson

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is out with another absurd Minnesota Poll, not even worth linking. They claim Klobuchar has a 52-36 percent lead, and it must be true since it matches the July poll. That these two polls might share a flawed methodology has not occured to them. That no Democrat has even exceeded 50.5 percent since Hubert Humphrey's last re-election in 1976 should be another clue. All of the blowouts since then have been won by Republicans during this time.

But let's suppose the Minnesota Poll is correct, than Amy Klobuchar indeed has a huge lead. The inescapable implication is that Amy Klobuchar is already substantially more popular than the late Senator Paul Wellstone ever was.

First, is Mark Kennedy only going to get 32 percent? Only if the Republicans stay home. A typical turnout, however, should provide Mark Kennedy with at least 40 percent of the vote. Unlike Klobuchar, he has no third party competition. Both the Independence and Green parties are clearly Democrat and Liberal respectively who will if anything bleed votes away from Klobuchar. This 8 point difference - from 32 to 40 percentage points - is the usual margin of Republican error in the Minnesota Poll.

But that's only 8 points. If the error is any higher, we can throw out this poll result right now. But let's continue, meaning Klobuchar has to make up the difference. Mathematically, she can only do this if she is truly more popular than Wellstone. Significantly more. This, too, strains credibility, but it could happen.

So, Democrats, before you celebrate this poll, think what you're really saying, that the Amy Klobuchar will not only trounce Mark Kennedy, she will pass Paul Wellstone on the list of all time great DFL Senators.

Be careful what you wish for.