Mark Kennedy: Environmentalist?

Many Minnesota bloggers and journalists have noted how Rep. Mark Kennedy is attempting to rejigger the public's perception of him now that it's an election year and he finds himself behind in the polls in his bid to move into the Senate. Here's another example from the Mankato Free Press in an article that's available only to paid subscribers:

Kennedy emphasizes environment

By Mark Fischenich, Free Press Staff Writer

NICOLLET — U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kennedy, in the midst of a 1,200-mile campaign tour covering all corners of Minnesota, made the environment the focus of his one stop in the Mankato area Wednesday.

Standing beside Swan Lake at the Nicollet Conservation Club on Swan Lake, the Republican congressman from Watertown echoed the words of his party’s most famous conservationist — Teddy Roosevelt — in saying he was committed to the ideal of leaving the world for the next generation in at least as good a shape as he found it.

“We face a challenge to make sure we’re changing the world for the better,” Kennedy said to a small crowd of Republican supporters and news reporters.

Fischenich notes the irony:

Kennedy has a poor to mediocre record on environmental issues, according to a pair of organizations that score lawmakers on their votes on protecting air and water quality, habitat preservation and other issues. His opponent — Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar — received the endorsement last month of the League of Conservation Voters....

His pro-conservation comments Wednesday came just two weeks after he criticized Klobuchar’s endorsement by the League of Conservation Voters during a candidate forum at Farmfest, suggesting to the farmers on hand that she would side with environmentalists over farmers.

For the record, the League of Conservation Voters gives Kennedy only an 11% approval rating, second lowest of the entire Minnesota congressional delegation. (Only John Kline is lower with 0%.)

LP