Grams Ends Bid for Senate

Citing the potential for a divisive campaign ahead, former U.S. Sen. Rod Grams said Sunday he is ending his bid to run for Senate in 2006.

Grams told The Associated Press that while he believed he could have won the Republican nomination for the seat he lost to Democratic Sen. Mark Dayton in 2000, he knew there would be a tough fight within the party. Dayton announced in February that he would not seek re-election.

"I felt this was the time we should be united," Grams said. "So ... I said I didn't want to be part of that type of a campaign whether I won or lost, and decided to not run."

Grams, 57, announced his decision Saturday at the Minnesota Republican Party's 8th District Convention in Isanti.

Grams said he'll support the party's nominee, likely to be U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy, who announced earlier this month that he had raised $550,000 over a six-week period, though he was only actively fundraising over three weeks.

Grams hadn't started fundraising yet, but said that wasn't a factor in his decision. He said he spent the last few months garnering support, and he said he has no doubts he could've raised the money.

"I was talking to a lot of people and I figured there was time for fundraising," Grams said. "I just didn't want to tear the party apart."

In recent weeks, Grams had accused state Republican Party Chairman Ron Eibensteiner of appearing to take sides in the race before the party's endorsing convention. Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Sen. Norm Coleman have endorsed Kennedy.

"I was never upset with Governor Pawlenty or Senator Coleman with making their endorsements," Grams said Sunday. "But my real complaint was with Chairman Eibensteiner," adding the chairman shouldn't be "a cheerleader for a candidate."

Grams said he would work to throw Eibensteiner out as chairman.

Michael Brodkorb, spokesman for the state Republican Party, said: "Chairman Eibensteiner and the Republican Party of Minnesota are currently, and have always been, neutral in the race for Senate."

In a story in the St. Paul Pioneer Press last month, Eibensteiner said Kennedy has worked hard for the party, and Rod Grams "never helped other candidates get elected or (had) been a part of the process. He's been missing in action for the last four years."

Grams served one term in the House before winning a Senate seat in 1994. Before going to Washington, he worked as a news anchorman in the Twin Cities.

He was one of the most conservative members in the Senate, and his signature achievement was passage of the $500-per-child tax credit. In 2000, he was outspent 2-1 by the self-funding millionaire Dayton.

Grams is now a consultant in Washington, and owner of three Minnesota radio stations with his wife and a 240-acre farm near Crown, where Grams grew up.

Brodkorb said with Grams out of the race, Kennedy is seen as the clear front-runner for the party nomination. One other candidate, retired minister Harold Shudlick, is also running as a Republican.

Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar is the first Democrat to officially enter the race, though children's advocate Patty Wetterling is expected to join her soon, while attorney Michael Ciresi and several others are considering the race.

Kennedy, speaking to WCCO-AM radio from Rome, where he attended Pope Benedict XVI's formal installation, said that he would continue to work hard for the Republican nomination for Senate.

Despite Grams' concerns about the party leadership, he said he will support whomever is nominated.

"I think it's very important that we win this Senate race," he said.

By Amy Forliti, Associated Press Writer

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