Coleman campaigns in New Ulm

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--U.S. Senate Republican candidate Norm Coleman, whose path to the general election this fall already has been cleared by President George W. Bush, paid an overnight visit to New Ulm in search of support for his candidacy.

Early on, Bush made it clear that no other Republicans need apply to take on incumbent Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone in the 2002 general election. With no intra-party opposition, Coleman has been free to concentrate on deposing Wellstone right from the start.

Coleman's first appearance was at a reception hosted by Brown County Republican Chairman Gerald Woodley at his home Thursday night. Coleman stumped New Ulm's main street Friday morning. In a meeting with The Journal editorial staff, Coleman outlined his approach in seeking the Senate seat now held by Wellstone.

"It has always been about bringing people together to get things done," Coleman said. "That's the benefit. I'd love to do for Minnesota what I've done to St. Paul."

He is most proud of the 18,000 jobs that were created during his eight years as mayor.

"I took a city that was economically dying, and through keeping lids on taxes eight years, cutting back on regulation, working with the schools and superintendent in getting charter schools started, making it a good place to send kids to school," Coleman related.

"Doing those things that generate hope and confidence, bringing back the NHL, Charlie Brown and Snoopy which brought 450,000 people to downtown St. Paul," he said. "I keep repeating the best welfare program is a job, the best housing program is a job so I did generate investment and growth which resulted in jobs."

Coleman believes he brings to the table skills so that, unlike his opponent, he can "reach across partisan lines to find some common ground to help shape an environment in which people want to invest and grow jobs."

Coleman said there's a "clear contrast" between himself and Wellstone because his opponent "has always prided himself on being the one guy fighting for or against, being the one of those opposed in a 98-2 vote, the guy who is more opposed to the President of the United States, the most partisan member of the U.S. Senate."

Coleman said he believes Minnesotans are looking for a different kind of leadership now.

"In these times of economic uncertainty and uncertainty in the world, I think folks are looking for leadership that does bring people together, does solve problems and has the ability to reach across the party line and make things happen."

However, Coleman said there are two important issues with which he disagrees with the president. One is oil drilling in the Alaskan wilderness, and the other is the amount of money in the federal budget for highways.

"I have not supported drilling in particular because I want to keep the pressure on renewables, I want to put that money into developing the bio-diesel industry which is really still in the beginning stage in a lot of areas. Let's put the money in doing what we've done with ethanol. With ethanol we've changed a lot of attitudes, and ethanol was a long struggle.

"We need more money for roads," Coleman explained. "Highways are our lifeblood and a major economic development issue in rural Minnesota. It's about getting product to market. U.S. Highway 14 is just one example of what needs to be done."

There are lots of those examples of highway needs throughout the state, Coleman said.

"I believe that MN ranks 45th in terms of the money coming back from Washington in relation to what we send in. I'm a conservative who believes we should get our fair share back."

However, Coleman supports the president in wanting to get rid of the estate tax, or death tax as it has become known, because of its implications for farm families and small business owners.

He also supports a value-added approach for farmers.

"Value added is important," Coleman said. "I'm a champion for bio-diesel, I've been a champion for ethanol and we got an ethanol plant in St. Paul. Sometimes we forget that livestock is value added. That's another opportunity that quite often gets short shrift."

Other issues such as creating job, Medicare payments, prescription drug pricing, funding special education to the 40 percent level and the impact of free trade on agricultural sales overseas are grist for Coleman's "bringing people together" concept.

"I do not believe government will solve all our problems," Coleman explained. "I believe that we have to create public-private partnerships to get things done. I have a record of creating those working partnerships."