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80:âcontrol of the White House and both houses of Congressâfor the next four years. The claimed influence of the memorial on the election ranks the event among the most consequential in Minnesota's political history, "altering the state's political landscape," with added repercussions at the national and international level. "When Sen. Paul Wellstoneâs plane went down in a northern Minnesota bog," said the
73:. A sizable shift in public opinion occurred in the week following the memorial event, with Mondale's commanding lead shrinking to a fraction of a point on Election Day before Coleman won by 2.2%. A significant portion of media analysis and public comment cited the memorial as a major cause of Mondale's loss.
248:
A week from today, Paul
Wellstoneâs name will not, and cannot, be on the ballot. But there will be a choice nonetheless either to embrace and continue his legacy in the United States Senate, either to keep his legacy alive or bring it forever to an end . If Paul Wellstoneâs legacy in the Senate comes
262:
Despite the political overtones that preceded Kahn's speech in the event, a rhetorical analysis summed up the clear narrative that emerged afterward: "The overwhelming conclusion of politicians, pundits, and journalists was that Kahnâs overt partisan politicking could be blamed for the backlash that
240:
Kahnâs speech began as a conventional eulogy but quickly began to include calls to specific political action by those in attendance, suggesting that the only way to honor
Wellstoneâs values was to act politically as Wellstone would have acted. âWe are going to stand up together,â he said. âAnd then,
119:
His death was met with a bipartisan outpouring of emotion that went beyond the politics of the moment. Often referred to as "the conscience of the Senate," Wellstone's political brand and approach to campaigning were frequently described in personal and populist terms such as "joyful," "optimistic,"
266:
Condemnation of the event's tone was swift. Governor Jesse
Ventura, who had previously stated his intention to appoint a Democrat to serve out the remainder of Wellstone's term through January 2003, said he was "disgusted" by the event, calling it "deceitful" and walking out, then threatening to
344:
warned that Ted
Kennedy's memorial service would be a ââWellstone memorial on steroids." And NBC News noted that, ââAnyone addressing the health care bill at the service will tread a fine line between taste and politics...The dangers of politicizing a memorial event were illustrated by a 2002
241:
weâre gonna organize, weâre gonna organize, weâre gonna organize, weâre gonna organize, weâre gonna organize, weâre gonna organize!...ogether, we can and will continue to fight every one of his fights; and together we can and will achieve great victories in Paul
Wellstoneâs name.ââ
222:, press accounts and quotes from those in attendance described a tone that turned to something resembling a "pep rally" or "partisan foot-stomp". Trent Lott and other Republicans were audibly booed as they entered the arena. A line from the opening remarks of event host and former
230:(âIn the belief that a free and caring people can overcome war, pestilence, and the loss of common senseââa likely allusion to the Iraq War resolution recently opposed by Wellstone) drew a 30-second standing ovation and a camera shot of Bill Clinton laughing and applauding on the
249:
to an end within just days after this unspeakable tragedy, then our spirits will be crushed and we will drown in a river of tears. We are begging you, do not let this happen. We are begging you to help us win this Senate election for Paul
Wellstone!
285:
Despite an eight-point deficit in the days before the election, Norm
Coleman defeated Walter Mondale by 2.2%. Because Democrats had controlled the Senate by a single vote, their advantage disappeared, with the tie-breaking vote of
253:
Kahn repeated the call for specific political action several times: âan you not hear your friend calling you one last time to step forward on his behalf to keep his legacy alive and help us win this election for Paul
Wellstone?â
348:"The Wellstone effect" has also been used more positively to describe a subsequent generation of politicians and activists who claim to have been inspired to public service by Wellstone, often despite long odds.
333:. Conservative commentators at the time invoked the Wellstone memorial to fend off any Democratic efforts to use Kennedyâs name to promote the legislation. "Remember Paul Wellstoneâs death?" said commentator
274:
Prominent
Republicans began to call for "equal air time,ââ claiming that the memorial was essentially a three-hour campaign ad for the Democrats. Former Republican congressional representative from Minnesota
279:
said, ââThe DFL clearly intends to exploit
Wellstoneâs memory totally, completely and shamelessly for political gain. To them, Wellstoneâs death, apparently, was just another campaign event.ââ
157:
In addition to grassroots supporters, entertainers, and other public figures, the memorial event was attended by politicians across the political spectrum. Democrats including former President
109:
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noted that the resulting government trifectaâcontrol of the presidency, the Senate, and the Houseâcould break ââthe deadlock that kept a number of bills from passing" in the prior session.
244:
Approximately halfway through the speech, Kahn moved beyond generalities to an explicit solicitation of votes for the Democratic senatorial candidate, interrupted multiple times by ovations:
237:
But the speaker most often cited in subsequent commentary as bearing responsibility for a political tone was Wellstone's longtime friend and former campaign treasurer Rick Kahn.
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Although most speakers and elements of the event were not unusual for a memorial and celebration of life, including remarks by friends and colleagues and gospel music by the
1061:
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Minnesota law required that his name be stricken from the ballot, to be replaced by a candidate chosen by the party. One day after the crash, the DFL selected former
511:
271:, founder and chair of Ventura's Independence Party of Minnesota, to serve the remaining two months of Wellstone's term; Barkley had run against Wellstone in 1996.
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in American politics warning against the backlash that may occur if a moment of public grief is politicized, often under the name "the Wellstone effect."
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giving Republicans de facto control. Other Senate results across the country increased the Republican caucus to an actual Senate majority of 51 seats.
697:
282:
Wellstone campaign manager Jeff Blodgett noted after the event that it had not been scripted and apologized to people who were offended or surprised.
337:. "You know, âLetâs do everything for Paulâ. And weâre now being implored to get behind Obamacare because itâs what Ted Kennedy would have wanted."
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appoint "an ordinary citizen" instead of a Democrat. On November 4, the day before the election, Ventura appointed state planning commissioner
951:
20:
728:
215:. Rather than drawing from high-profile attendees, the invited speakers were mostly limited to close colleagues and friends of Wellstone's.
26:
in a small plane crash and one week before the election in which he was running for a third term, a large public memorial event was held in
60:
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In the week that followed, the tone and content of the memorial became a major public focus, with claims by public figures including
464:
59:
A poll completed hours before the memorial reflected an eight-point lead for Wellstone's planned replacement on the ballot, former
37:
1056:
67:
137:
14,625-seat Williams Arena, site of the 2002 Wellstone memorial event, during a University of Minnesota basketball game in 2015
439:
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Coleman's election was a decisive factor in shifting the Senate from Democratic to Republican control, giving Republicans a
877:
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that the event had devolved from a memorial into a partisan political rally. A significant backlash ensued against the
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won a three-way governorâs race, the party picked up a U.S. House seat, and gains were made in the state legislature.
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Wellstone's death occurred in the context of a consequential and contentious national election. President
928:"Conservative media invoke Wellstone memorial smear in predicting politicization of Kennedy's death"
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in a crucial race to determine party control of the Senate, which Democrats held by a single seat.
837:
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were experiencing an atypically strong midterm election for the party in power, due in part to a
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538:"Six years later, Wellstone memorial host Latimer still agonizes over event's political fallout"
81:
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698:"The Day the Campaign Died: The Wellstone Memorial, Civic Piety, and Political Propriety"
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1002:"Defeating a Minnesota member of Congress is a long-shot, but some are willing to try"
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641:"Twenty years after his death, efforts to maintain Paul Wellstone's legacy continue"
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The memorial service for Wellstone and the other victims of the crash was held in
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were present, as well as current and former Republican senators including
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Sinker, Howard (30 October 2002). "More Than 20,000 Honor Wellstone".
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Minnesota's Senate race led a strong night for the GOP as Republican
276:
231:
84:, "it turned the state into the ground zero of American politics."
34:
in remembrance of the senator and seven others killed in the crash.
512:"Mondale's surprise Senate run hurt by partisan Wellstone memorial"
561:
Von Sternberg, Bob (3 November 2002). "High Stakes, High Drama".
166:
813:"MPR: Wellstone staff apologizes for memorial service rhetoric"
442:. Edwardsville Intelligencer. Associated Press. 29 October 2002
329:
died on August 25, 2009 in the midst of heated debate over the
952:"Kennedy Service Will Be the Wellstone Memorial on Steroids"
367:"Wellstone colleagues join thousands for Minnesota memorial"
667:"Wellstone still influences politics, 15 years after death"
120:
and "grassroots". Campaigning was halted by all sides.
108:. Just 18 days earlier, Wellstone had voted against the
56:(DFL) generally and Mondale's candidacy specifically.
1047:
Democratic Party United States senators from Minnesota
318:
The Wellstone memorial event has become a cautionary
211:, as well as Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura of the
110:
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq
313:
1062:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2002
415:"Mondale to Replace Wellstone on Minnesota Ballot"
19:On October 29, 2002, four days after the death of
786:"Senator Wellstone Memorial Service | C-SPAN.org"
16:October 2002 event in Williams Arena, Minneapolis
1023:
976:"Political luminaries to pay tribute to Kennedy"
325:A prominent example is found after U.S. Senator
152:
696:Samek, Alyssa; Anderson, Karrin Vasby (2011).
762:"Mondale's Senate Bid Falls Short - CBS News"
695:
560:
393:"Tone of Wellstone memorial generates anger"
257:
878:"Conservatives Warn of "Wellstone Effect""
469:Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State
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87:
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608:Paul Wellstone: Conscience of the Senate
490:"Mondale's defeat is blamed on memorial"
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66:, over Republican challenger and former
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149:and broadcast live on national TV.
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345:memorial for Sen. Paul Wellstone."
206:Health and Human Services Secretary
13:
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611:. St. Cloud MN: North Star Press.
575:
492:. Tampa Bay Times. 7 November 2002
440:"Poll: Mondale Leads Over Coleman"
391:Karl, Jonathan (31 October 2002).
112:. He died just 11 days before his
14:
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1032:20th-century American politicians
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903:"Watch for the Wellstone Effect"
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836:Tribune, Chicago (2002-11-05).
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727:Saletan, William (2002-10-30).
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465:"2002 General Election Results"
1057:Accidental deaths in Minnesota
926:Weiland, Morgan (2009-08-27).
817:news.minnesota.publicradio.org
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901:Perrin, Daniel (2009-08-26).
876:Smith ⢠â˘, Ben (2009-08-27).
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605:Ireland, Mark (1 Sep 2008).
299:political science professor
165:, and former Vice President
153:Oct. 29, 2002 memorial event
102:rally 'round the flag effect
7:
1000:Radelat, Ana (2022-10-04).
760:Collins, Dan (2002-11-04).
578:"Tribute to Paul Wellstone"
41:Sen. Paul Wellstone in 1999
10:
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639:Nelson, Tim; Kraker, Dan.
204:, and Bush Administration
1072:2002 in the United States
932:Media Matters for America
536:Grow, Doug (2008-10-24).
258:Aftermath of the memorial
702:Communication Quarterly
565:. pp. Section 1-A.
297:University of Minnesota
147:University of Minnesota
956:The Rush Limbaugh Show
863:Minnesota Star-Tribune
838:"Ventura pokes Senate"
563:Minnesota Star-Tribune
371:Minnesota Public Radio
314:"The Wellstone effect"
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88:Aftermath of the crash
82:Minnesota Star Tribune
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21:Minnesota U.S. Senator
1067:Events in Minneapolis
419:National Public Radio
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665:Jacobsen, Jeremiah.
114:potential reelection
106:September 11 attacks
1052:Minnesota Democrats
882:NBC 6 South Florida
331:Affordable Care Act
220:Sounds of Blackness
78:government trifecta
585:State of Minnesota
301:Lawrence R. Jacobs
213:Independence Party
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47:Minnesota Governor
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907:The HSA Coalition
365:McCallum, Laura.
200:, Representative
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161:and First Lady
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125:Vice President
104:following the
94:George W. Bush
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28:Williams Arena
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1009:. Retrieved
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729:"No Contest"
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1077:2002 deaths
671:KARE-11.com
327:Ted Kennedy
291:Dick Cheney
202:Jim Ramstad
183:Tom Daschle
171:Ted Kennedy
169:. Senators
32:Minneapolis
1026:Categories
1011:2024-09-02
986:2024-09-02
961:2024-09-02
937:2024-09-02
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771:2024-08-30
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618:0878392904
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352:References
320:touchstone
224:Saint Paul
198:John Glenn
194:Trent Lott
187:John Kerry
179:Tom Harkin
741:1091-2339
714:0146-3373
676:27 August
650:27 August
624:27 August
590:27 August
521:20 August
424:20 August
376:20 August
277:Vin Weber
263:ensued."
232:Jumbotron
1006:MinnPost
980:NBC News
645:MPR News
542:MinnPost
496:9 August
474:9 August
446:9 August
399:9 August
96:and the
167:Al Gore
145:at the
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226:Mayor
733:Slate
581:(PDF)
395:. CNN
737:ISSN
710:ISSN
678:2024
652:2024
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613:ISBN
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196:and
185:and
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