Is former governor needed now?

Second-time Minnesota governor candidate Jeff Johnson easily won a Tuesday, Feb. 6 straw poll, but could face a bigger obstacle in coming weeks: Tim Pawlenty.

Caucuses across Minnesota Tuesday night were not well attended— mainly because this is not a presidential election year. In Minneota, only six people showed up for the Republican caucus, and one of them was Rep. Chris Swedzinski.

Like so many, Rep. Swedzinski is curious to see how the Republican race washes out in terms of candidates.

While he, like so many others, admit Johnson is the early choice, he has his eye on Pawlenty, a Republican and former two-term governor, who still is deciding if he will run for the office again.

“He has the best chance of winning, because of name recognition and ability to raise funds,” said Swedzinski.

Across the state, Republican state Chairman Keith Downey and Woodbury Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens are two more candidates folks are looking at — and Swedzinski said Stephens may be a sleeper in the group.

Teacher Phillip Parrish also figures in the mix.

At the last campaign, Johnson lost to Gov. Mark Dayton so Johnson may have some momentum.

Most Republicans figure their opponent will be U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, who seems to have an early lead in the Democratic race.

Caucuses also get the process moving in terms of delegates chosen for upcoming conventions.

Tuesday night that process got a good start. While the caucuses are called, “Grass Roots Politics” at its finest, it didn’t provide much in the way of solid information.

But it’s a start — and that’s what matters!