Oct 01, 2006 - 02:07:02 CDT
GRAND FORKS - Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad and his Republican challenger have been traveling the parade routes of North Dakota in different ways. Conrad usually sits atop a convertible. Dwight Grotberg cruises standing up, on a two-wheeled scooter.The two men joked about Grotberg's Segway before a recent parade in downtown Grand Forks, after the company warned owners about a software glitch capable of sending riders tumbling.
"I was wondering, Kent, if you had something to do with that," joked Grotberg, who has difficulty walking long distances because of back problems.
Grotberg's zigzagging across city streets may not be quite as ambitious as Conrad's last opponent, Duane Sand, who walked across the state six years ago to promote his candidacy. But even Conrad is impressed that Grotberg, a political unknown, jumped into the race after Republicans failed to recruit Gov. John Hoeven to run.
"It takes some courage to stand up and be willing to be out front. I commend him for that," Conrad said, adding later: "I like the guy."
Both candidates have agreed not to attack each other. In the state's last U.S. Senate race two years ago, Republican challenger Mike Liffrig kicked off his campaign by promising a "guerrilla warfare approach" against Sen. Byron Dorgan. The Democrat got 68 percent of the vote.
"My approach that's different than the last election cycle is that I've pledged to run a positive campaign," Grotberg said. "I'm committed to challenging the senator in the arena of ideas, but I won't slam anybody's character."
Conrad, 58, was first elected to the Senate in 1986, when he knocked off Republican incumbent Mark Andrews. He defeated Jack Dalrymple in 1992, Ben Clayburgh in 1994 and Sand in 2000.
Conrad said his campaign strategy is simple: Do it all the time, not just in an election year.
"When I come home, I don't just sit in the living room," Conrad said. "I go from town to town."
Grotberg, 39, a Sanborn farmer, said he's receiving limited support from the Republican Party, which he said puts its money into close races and get out the vote campaigns.
"Sure, we would like to see them padding our pockets as well," Grotberg said. "I've challenged them in their way of doing things. I'm still a Republican and proud of it."
Grotberg said his campaign platform is based on providing a stronger rural economy. He wants to make tax cuts permanent and provide incentives for North Dakota businesses.
"Voters believe the Democratic delegation will bring them more money home from D.C.," Grotberg said. "Over and over again, it's their belief. I'm challenging them in that area. I don't believe it's true."
As the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, Conrad is often the party spokesman in debates about numbers, and is known for using charts and other graphic aids during debates.
Grotberg acknowledges that Conrad has "had 20 years to stand up and argue numbers," but the challenger said he's not intimidated by Conrad's charts and graphs.
"Charts are good, there's no doubt about it," Grotberg said. "They also make people kind of sleepy."
Grotberg argues with Conrad's assertion that the country's mounting debt is threatening long-term economic security, despite lower deficit projections. Grotberg called it a one-sided view.
"The problem that I found in his approach ... is if you focus only on the debt and deficit side in the financial equation, you will never grow," Grotberg said. "Sure, we've got a national debt. But our gross domestic product is also at record levels. We have to look at both."
Conrad said he believes North Dakotans appreciate his attention to budget details.
"I'm not exactly the guy you bring to the big political rally. I'm not Mr. Charisma," Conrad said. "But they do know that I do my homework. They do know that I play it straight. I don't gild the lily. I don't make stuff up."
Conrad is promoting a new energy bill that he claims will reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil. The bill would use tax credits and grants to invest in such alternative fuel projects as ethanol and biodiesel, and coal-to-liquid technology.
Grotberg said he supports those ideas, but said Conrad has fought some proposals to increase domestic oil production, such as exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
"We don't just encourage biofuel production and alternative fuels, but we encourage domestic petroleum production alongside alternative fuels ... and let the market decide," Grotberg said.
No matter what the outcome in November, Grotberg said he'll be happy to return to the farm with his wife and seven children.
"This is an uphill battle, no question about it," Grotberg said. "But I sought out the party. Nobody came to me."
Sick of Republicans' Inaccuracies wrote on Oct 1, 2006 4:48 PM:
Barney wrote on Oct 1, 2006 9:31 AM:
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