Trackers for the Republican campaigns for governor have been especially busy during this season of local conventions, trying to catch the opposition in a moment of misspeak.
One videographer captured Scott Honour — at two conventions — implying he had an inside track with the Republican Governors Association. I’ve viewed the segments, and here’s what they show.
At Grace Church of the Nazarene in Inver Grove Heights, Honour told the delegates at the March 15 House District 52B convention:
The Republican Governors Association would like me to be the candidate. They had me speak at their annual meeting in November. I’m one of two candidates in the country that they invited to speak. The reason is they see this as a winnable race. They know our governor is vulnerable, and with the right candidate, they’ll put in the resources to help us.
He made similar remarks the same day at the Senate District 39 convention in Mahtomedi:
I’ve had support from the Republican Governors Association. I’ve been to speak at their annual meeting last November. They did so because they see this state as one that’s winnable. They know the governor is vulnerable. They’ll put the resources, both in terms of money and people, to help us win if I’m the candidate.
Update: Honour campaign spokeswoman Valentina Weis said that he did not mean to suggest that he had the RGA endorsement. "Scott's point is that the RGA is interested in a well-funded candidate like him and more likely to get involved if a candidate can raise money and get a great campaign team," she said.
The RGA did not respond to several requests for comment, but a spokesman, in an interview about the four-way race for the GOP nomination in Illinois, is quoted as saying the group does not get involved in competitive primaries.
In that race, candidate Bruce Rauner won Tuesday’s primary election. The RGA immediately sent him hearty congratulations and a check for $750,000.
The Minnesota primary, in which at least three of the GOP governor candidates say they intend to compete, is Aug. 12.