Editorial: Klobuchar for U.S. Senate

Made in America. The slogan isn't new, but having a Minnesota senator so dedicated to the cause is refreshing and heartening.

The state's first woman elected U.S. senator has stood strong with jobs-hungry Minnesotans and with jobs-producing Minnesota businesses.

Red Wing residents know because Amy Klobuchar has visited here twice on her Made in America Tour. In fact, she's visited Goodhue County at least once every year in her first term - a pattern she's worked hard to duplicate in each of Minnesota's 87 counties.

More importantly, she has filled six years with hard work that brought successes, big and small. She pushed to bring broadband Internet service to rural Minnesota, for example, and thereby open up the entire state to economic growth. She collaborated with 2nd District Congressman John Kline's office on such things as benefits for veterans.

She, Sen. Al Franken and Kline also helped expedite the Duff Endowment Fund bringing a Cuban choir to Red Wing - a delicate process since the two countries have no diplomatic relations. In the bigger picture, she has encouraged international tourism by shortening the excessive wait for all foreign travelers to receive U.S. tourist visas. That could bring serious money to the region since foreigners spend an average of $5,000 every visit.

Klobuchar's Republican opponent is Kurt Bills, a straight-talking high school economics teacher from Rosemount and one-term state House representative. He's brought a fresh voice to the campaign, but he simply has neither the record nor campaign treasury to take on Klobuchar. No Republican could; that's why no one with real name recognition ran.

Klobuchar is a growing political powerhouse, made in America, made right here in Minnesota.

Tags: opinion, editorials