Don't know Jack? Here's your chance

What once was home to an upscale hardware store in the Uptown district of Minneapolis is now a bustling campaign headquarters for a Democratic senate candidate who goes by the name of Jack.

If you don't know Jack, so to speak, it's because he's been overshadowed in media coverage by the guys with the bigger names and deeper pockets. But all the delegates to this weekend's DFL state convention in Rochester have heard plenty about Jack Neslon-Pallmeyer.

"Hi Greg, this is Dave Moe calling for the Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer campaign..."

Nelson-Pallmeyer's staff and volunteers are working the phones, dialing for delegates, heading into the state convention. Most of those delegates have already met Nelson-Pallmeyer and the perceived frontrunner, Al Franken, at district and county conventions.

Because Franken and Nelson-Pallmeyer have both pledged to abide by the party's endorsement, that gathering at the Mayo Civic Center Friday and Saturday will determine which Democrat's name appears on the ballot next to incumbent Norm Coleman's name.

"As Minnesotans we can solve a lot of the problems we face," Nelson-Pallmeyer told KARE 11 Monday, "This is an anxious time but I believe this can be a hopeful time."

While many pundits have already moved beyond the endorsing convention, and are focusing instead on the Franken-Coleman matchup, Nelson-Pallmeyer still feels good about his prospects.

"I think why people are attracted to my campaign.." Nelson-Pallmeyer started to say Monday when he was interrupted by the ringing of a bell and cheers from volunteers.

"We like that sound!" exclaimed Nelson-Pallmeyer, "That sound indicates another firmed up delegate who's going to be voting for me in Rochester."

He said he's felt momentum growing since March 11th, when trial lawyer Mike Ciresi exited the race. Some wonder how Nelson-Pallmeyer can hope to beat Franken when someone with Ciresi's money and connections saw the effort as futile.

But the 59-year-old University of Saint Thomas professor appears undaunted.

"I feel we're connecting with people all around the state."

Wellstonian in ways

He may not have the rambunctious personality of the late Senator Paul Wellstone, but the comparisons come easily.

Nelson-Pallmeyer is a professor and social activist fighting the label of political long shot. And, as was the case with Wellstone, he has no reservations of being branded a liberal.

Nelson-Pallmeyer challenged veteran Congressman Martin Sabo from the left in the 2006 before Sabo even announced he was retiring. He eventually lost that year to Keith Ellison at the 5th District convention, but his sense of urgency about the coming decade hasn't subsided.

"The decisions we make in the next few years on climate, health care, the war, and the economy will determine the quality of life for many generations to come," Nelson-Pallmeyer told KARE.

"As long as our politics comes with some honesty about where we are, and some sense of hope about where we can go, I think that's what people are looking for now."

The professor of peace and justice studies has been a strident opponent of the war in Iraq. He calls for a responsible end to the conflict, but believes there's still a need for a full accounting of why the United States invaded that country five years ago.

"The real obstacle to moving forward in Iraq is we're still trying to take their oil and still trying to build permanent military bases there," Nelson-Pallmeyer remarked, "As long as that's true we're going to have a bloody insurgency. As long as we're not honest we won't win the help of other nations in that region."

He also supports a single-payer version of universal health care program, supported by tax dollars. Nelson-Pallmeyer argues people and businesses currently pay far more in premiums than they would in taxes to pay for such a plan.

"We're the last industrialized nation that isn't doing this, and those places -- Germany, France, Japan, Canada -- are all taking care of people for less per capita than we do here."

Homegrown activist

He grew up as Jack Nelson in Coon Rapids and graduated from high school there in 1969. He never wrestled like Wellstone or Jesse Ventura.

"My records were for most points in a basketball game, and worst-ever football injury," Nelson-Pallmeyer laughed.

He explained he scored 37 points in a basketball game as a sophomore in Coon Rapids, but as a junior had one of his legs ripped from its hip socket while playing football.

"Fortunately they didn't amputate it," he said, "Let's just say I can reach down and touch my knees but not my toes."

He graduated from Saint Olaf with a political science degree in 1973, and holds a master of divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York.

His studies and jobs took him to some of the most poverty-stricken areas in the United States and other parts of the world. It's an issue he's revisiting now on the campaign trail.

"I've talked to people who are making those terrible choices," Nelson-Pallmeyer said, "Do they put food on the table or gas in their car? Do they pay their mortgages or do they pay for the medicines they need?"

When he married Sara Pallmeyer 25 years ago he added her last name to his. She heads the Center for Families in north Minneapolis. They have three daughters, one in college and two in high school in south Minneapolis.

Decision Time in Rochester

"You're going to vote for Jack starting with the first ballot, right?" staffer Dave Moe could be heard asking a delegate on the phone Monday.

If the people on the Jack for Senate team can survive convention weekend, they'll go to work on Minnesota voters in general. For now, they're concentrating on the 1,200 elected delegates and 188 superdelegates who'll be asked to choose between Al Franken and Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.

The contest won't be solely about a matter or pure philosophy and policy for the delegates. They'll most likely wrestle with the "electability" issue, the question of who is better equipped to challenge a highly-funded incumbent with a familiar name such as Coleman.

As Nelson-Pallmeyer points out, if he can pull off an upset of Al Franken he'll gain all kinds of name recognition.

"If and when I win this endorsement, I think people will get to know my name is hurry!"

By John Croman, KARE 11 News

Check out our KARE family of Web sites:
	takeKARE		Metromix
	Moms Like Me		Minnesota Bound
	Showcase Minnesota