Hometown News from Minnesota

[Ed. note: Though I've been a Seattle-ite for 13 years, I spent my formative years back in Minnesota (and graduated from St. Olaf College--no relation to the Golden Girls TV show). And yes, despite years of training, I can slip back into 'SotaSpeak quite easily, especially during visits to the state to see family.]

I didn't realize this, but the mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota endorsed George Bush back in the 2004 election. Looks like he's paying the price now in the just completed primary; story via the Star Tribune (subscription) (hat tip to Daily Kos):

St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly could be in for the fight of his political life after receiving barely half as many votes as former City Council Member Chris Coleman in Tuesday's primary. [...] Coleman outdistanced Kelly by 52 percent to 27 percent, with Kelly coming perilously close to dropping behind Green Party candidate Elizabeth Dickinson, who received 19 percent. [...] Kelly faced voters for the first time Tuesday since endorsing Republican President Bush in 2004. His campaign for weeks had downplayed expectations for the primary, saying he expected to lose. "When the incumbent mayor loses a primary by a 2-to-1 margin, it's a referendum on his performance," said Coleman, who defeated Kelly in the incumbent's own East Side precinct. "It has nothing to do with party loyalty. It's about value and judgment. He's had four years to establish trust with the voters, and clearly the voters are not happy."