Strib introduces Sarvi; Kline responds
July 19th, 2007 1:55 am by DJ DanielsonA day after the AP made the decision to finally shed light on challengers to Michele Bachmann (sixth district) and John Kline (second district), as opposed to the exclusive focus on the crowd of GOP folks trying to take on Tim Walz in the first, a mainstream media source is finally putting the spotlight on one of them.
Today, the Star Tribune introduces readers to Steve Sarvi.
In what could be an intriguing political matchup next year, a National Guardsman with 20 years in the service under his belt is likely to take on Second District GOP Rep. John Kline, a three-term incumbent whose 25 year career in the Marines has been central to his political profile.
Sgt. 1st Class Steve Sarvi, who is demobilizing at Fort McCoy, Wis., this week after serving with the Minnesota Guard in Iraq, is leaning toward making the bid, according to his father, Al Sarvi.
“There’s nothing official yet, but we’re all pretty excited about it,” the elder Sarvi said Wednesday. “Because he’s still in the service, he can’t file, collect money or look for support yet.”
Working in Iraq since April 2006 on the Army’s reconstruction efforts, Sarvi, 42, is due to arrive home in Victoria on Friday and will be released from the service in a month, his father said.
Already, the comparison to Walz is being established, and John Kline responds:
If Sarvi jumps into the race, he would represent a continuation of the Democrats’ 2006 strategy of running veterans against Republicans they deem vulnerable, a tactic that paid off in Minnesota’s First District, where Rep. Tim Walz, a retired Guard member, pulled off a surprise victory.
“We’ve been talking with the DFL about it, so they know we’re looking at this,” Al Sarvi said.
DFL spokeswoman Kelly Schwinghammer was noncommittal about Sarvi’s potential candidacy, saying, “It’s a fluid field out there. We’re definitely grateful for his service to the country.”
In a prepared statement, Kline said, “I welcome him home, thank him for his service in Iraq and wish him the best as he re-integrates into civilian life. I look forward to the political contest next year, with whomever the DFL candidate might be.”
One advantage Kline supporters have always held on their mantles is his military service. With Sarvi’s experience in Iraq coupled with (what I hope will be!) a continuation of the very successful grassroots formula that helped send Walz to Washington, Kline will likely not be able to sleep easy this election cycle.
Stay tuned; we will have you covered here at IDHA on these developments.