Amy Klobuchar

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Amy J. Klobuchar (born May, 1960 in Plymouth, Minnesota) is the county attorney of Hennepin County, Minnesota and the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) candidate in the 2006 United States Senate election.

Klobuchar was first elected to office in 1998 and re-elected in 2002 with no opposition. In 2001 she was selected "Attorney of the Year" by Minnesota Lawyer. Klobuchar was president of the [Minnesota County Attorneys Association] from 2001 to 2003. She has very high approval ratings in Hennepin County.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]} Besides working as a prosecutor, Klobuchar has also been a partner at one of Minnesota's top law firms, Dorsey & Whitney, where former Vice President Walter Mondale also works.

Klobuchar received her bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Yale University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School. Klobuchar is married to attorney John Bessler and has a daughter, Abigail. They live in Minneapolis. Her father, Jim Klobuchar, is an author and retired columnist for the Star Tribune.

2006 Senate race

Klobuchar was recognized early on as a favorite for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination in 2006 for the U.S. Senate seat current held by Mark Dayton. Dayton announced in early 2005 that he will not seek re-election. Klobuchar won the DFL's endorsement on June 9, 2006.

Klobuchar gained the early endorsement of the majority of DFL state legislators in Minnesota. A poll taken of DFL state delegates showed Klobuchar beating her then closest opponent, Patty Wetterling, 66% to 15%. Klobuchar was endorsed by EMILY's List on 29 September, 2005. On January 20, 2006, Wetterling dropped out of the race and endorsed Klobuchar. The only other serious candidate for the DFL endorsement was veterinarian Ford Bell, who dropped out of the race on July 10 and also endorsed Klobuchar. Former Senate candidate and prominent lawyer Mike Ciresi, who was widely seen as the only other serious potential DFL candidate, indicated on February 7, 2006 that he would not enter the race; that removal of her most significant potential competitor for the DFL nomination was viewed as an important boost for Klobuchar. [link]

Amy Klobuchar on the campaign trail

Those supporting Klobuchar for her bid for the DFL nomination point to her electoral experience, high-profile name, and record as a tough prosecutor as reasons for her electability. Opponents said they had doubts about her ability to connect with rural voters, and worry that her being backed by the DFL Party establishment may be a liability. Nonetheless, many national Democrats, such as DSCC leader and New York Senator Chuck Schumer and Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln, have expressed their positive impression of Klobuchar's candidacy.

As of June 30, 2005, Klobuchar had the most money on hand in the Senate race, with nearly $1.1 million. The presumptive Republican nominee, Mark Kennedy, announced that he had $966,000 in the bank.

If Klobuchar becomes the DFL nominee in September and wins in November, she will be the first elected female Senator from Minnesota (Muriel Humphrey, the first female Senator, was appointed, not elected).

External links

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