GOP Tony Sutton Pushing for Governor 2010

Chief of State Republican Tony Sutton is pushing hard to get voters’ attention for the 2010 gubernatorial race.

After disappointing showings in 2006 and 2008, Sutton, who hails from the DFL stronghold of Hibbing, is working to reenergize republicans heading into 2010.

He's scheduling more GOP candidate forums, like a gubernatorial event Monday in Prior Lake. On Tuesday, he formally challenged the spending of Mayors Chris Coleman and RT Rybak who are both running for reelection and are both likely candidates for governor.

"People are flocking to our side and that's because of the overreaching going on by the left, by the Dems," said Sutton.

But democrats, who think they have a strong shot of winning the governor's office, next year, compare Sutton with republican national chair, Michael Steele.

DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez believes Sutton’s prediction of a pendulum swing right will fall flat.

"Republican candidates tend to be very obstructionist,” said Melendez. “They want to disengage in the issues.”