The woes of Minnesota's Republican Party were aired nationally this week, with an article in Washington D.C.'s Roll Call publication.
"It’s hard to find a state party that’s fallen as far, as quickly, as the Minnesota GOP has," says the story.
The list of problems isn't new to Minnesota political followers:
The state party kicked off last year nearly $2 million in debt. In April, it faced eviction for six figures in owed rent on the party’s headquarters. In November, Republicans racked up historic losses: a 35-point defeat in a Senate race, a competitive House seat, control of both legislative chambers and two GOP-backed constitutional amendments. Ouch.
National party leaders say the Minnesota GOP needs to focus on a statewide race in 2014 to regain a foothold, but there's not agreement on whether to go after Gov. Mark Dayton or Sen. Al Franken. And who will they run?
And notes the story:
Whoever runs must endure the state party’s caucus convention system. Conservative activists dominate the GOP caucus ranks, backing candidates who are not very palatable to the state’s large bloc of independent voters.