Kelly's job is residential, not presidential, politics

[Another Bill C.]

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/editorial/9303819.htm
TurnKoat (Randy) Kelly is the Democratic mayor of St. Paul who announced that he will campaign for Bush* in Minnesota.
This editorial is surprising since it comes from a normally Conservative newspaper.

"'My first obligation is to the citizens of St. Paul,' Kelly told MPR's 'Midmorning' show. 'I have been trying to avoid getting pulled into presidential politics for as long as I can. I just want to keep moving downstream. I want to avoid the conflict.'

"We lauded him for that. As we said last week, who cares who he — or any other local politician — endorses for president? His focus should be on the many issues facing St. Paul — like the smoking ban and erasing the more than 20 percent office space vacancy rate in downtown St. Paul. Voters should judge him on what he's done for St. Paul, not who he's endorsing in the race for the White House.

"Silly us for thinking we could take a politician at his word. On Sunday, Kelly threw himself headfirst into the national political fray, endorsing President Bush."

On edit: Sorry. I didn't remember that you have to sign up (free) for access to this paper.