Submitted by Derek Brigham 

On November 1 we had our monthly BPOU meeting for SD45 Republicans. I am the A side chair, and my friend Guy Collins is one of the vice chairs on the A side. We both figured this would probably be a low attendance meeting since it followed so close after our Chili & Chat last week.

But then again, maybe there would be a lot of folks because we knew to expect a brief introduction speech form some candidates for the 2008 races. Among them Jeff Johnson and Barbara Davis White who has announced her candidacy for US house in CD5 against Keith Ellison. Now, I have gotten to know Jeff very well over the last few years but was very curious and anticipating my meeting with Barb. I expected she would be chok' full of personality after reading her "Barbography." And she delivered. Let's just say, Jeff wished he had gone first.

I introduced myself to her, talked briefly and got an immediate feeling of warmth. Not the usual "Hi I'm running for office" salesmanship, but a genuine feeling of ease, humor and grace. We got along like a house on fire right from the start, but we had to break it up so the meeting could start. These things can be painful—you know, people who have not run for office before getting on with a stilted speech—reading from notes, thankful as hell they are in a room of friendlies. That wasn't the case with Barb.

She stood up and just went for it, stating her case with ease as an unapologetic conservative Republican and Christian, and the room responded well. No prepared speech, lots of unique life stories, quick with wit and no trouble talking about her Christian faith and a lifetime of ease meeting people of all walks being a pastor in challenged neighborhoods—no country club Republican she.

So what is this glowing first impression worth when we stack it up in a competitive race against Keith Ellison? After all, Tammy Lee and Alan Fine together couldn't even dent Ellison's numbers . We all know Keith has a less than stellar record as a model of good civic virtue But that won't help in CD5, coupled with a coddling press on his side. Here are a few things that will help Barb.

Ellison comes off in general as a downbeat guy. His game is to paint the world as a pack of problems. Barb is a polar opposite. Unlike Alan Fine, I believe she will be running an all-smiles campaign. Meeting her, it's hard t oimagine her doing otherwise. It will be an easy switch for her to get heated on an issue with her personality—much easier, that is for her to take the occasional dig, than for Ellison to strike the occasional smile and joke. You can't fake personalities, especially in the era of YouTube. These two are like a rainy day vs. sunshine.

Issue 2: Ellison is a Muslim with connections to the Nation of Islam, along with a long history of polarizing statements and actions especially against Jews. Barb on the other hand is a respected Christian theologian, and let's take a quick look at her Barbography:

Barb’s maternal grandparents, Ida and Benjamin, were both Orthodox Jews who survived Nazi persecution by fleeing to Ellis Island, New York - she from Lithuania and he from Hungary. Barb’s great-aunt, Ida’s sister, was not as fortunate, but perished with the many others in Auschwitz.

Ida and Benjamin married and settled to raise their family in Minnesota, where they escaped the fate of many Jewish immigrants who, at that time, were being sent back to Europe. It was in Minnesota that Barb’s mother, Rose, was born and raised. As a young woman, Rose met and fell in love with Claude Penland, a Black Catholic North Carolinian.

Hmmmm. Which of these two will play easier in a population of mostly Christian and Jewish voters?

A woman vs. a man? I'd say voters would favor the woman.

Ethnic minority as a trump card for Ellison. Nope, that's a wash.

Standing up for more police and being tough on crime is a HUGE issue in Minneapolis. Sorry Keith, you've made the wrong choices there again. While Barb has been actively pushing Mayor Rybak to get active protecting troubled neighborhoods.

In addition to campaign experience, Ellison has three things going for him that can't be denied. The Letter (D), the letter (I) and the umbrella of the Star Tribune. Other than that, the heir to Martin Sabo's seat has a lot of negatives.

Well, that's a start, I'm sure there are more comparisons to be made, but my first impression of Barb Davis White was a good one. Nice to meet you Barb.