Minnesota Farmers May Vote Against Bush, due to trade deal

[Eric J in MN]

Please rate this story a 5 at:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040925/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_midwest_sugar

ADA, Minn. - Sugar beet farmers in a rural Minnesota district that turned out solidly for President Bush (news - web sites) in 2000 are having second thoughts about his re-election now that the administration is supporting a trade agreement they see as a threat...

That could make the difference in the state Bush lost to Democratic candidate Al Gore (news - web sites) by fewer than 6,000 votes. Winning Minnesota's 10 electoral votes this year depends on turning out the sort of support Bush received in the 7th District, which the Republican carried by nearly 15 percentage points.

Kevin Nelson, a wheat and sugar beet farmer near Glyndon, donated money to the first Bush campaign. Now, the president has "lost all my support," Nelson said.

"I was unsure of him back then, too," Nelson said. "He has never been very strong on agriculture in general."

[markus]

1. This could also make a difference in Florida and Louisiana

The other really big sugar state is Hawaii, which last I checked is about as blue as it can get.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Please rate this story a 5, because it can undermine Bush's

folksky image.

[kikiek]

3. That is good news. Now Kerry has to come out and say he will back them.

[Eric J in MN]

4. I agree (nt)

nt

[mzmolly]

5. Glad to hear the farmers are comin around.

Most beet farmers are leaning toward Democratic candidate John Kerry (news - web sites), said Victor Krabbenhoft, chairman of the board of directors of Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative and a Bush supporter in 2000. Kerry could guarantee votes by making it clear he would take sugar out of the trade agreement, Krabbenhoft said.

"That could get him support in the 7th District like you wouldn't believe," Krabbenhoft said.

Kerry has said he favors renegotiating CAFTA, a position Diane Ista interprets to mean that he will fight against the agreement. At the least, Krabbenhoft said, that is more than beet farmers are hearing from Bush.

"It may not be completely the way we feel," Ista said, "but the point is that Kerry is willing to learn."

[Moderator]

6. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=864400