Will Minnesota DFLers get so caught up in a multi-candidate battle for the gubernatorial endorsement and then the sure-to-come primary for the nomination that they will have but a small seven-week window from primary to general election to find some party unity?

That’s shaping up as a distinct possibility as we are a little more than a year out from the general election, about 10 months out from the primary and there are four serious candidates ready to run serious campaigns for the DFL nomination.

Attorney General Mike Hatch joined Twin Cities businessman Kelly Doran and state Sen. Steve Kelly of Hopkins in the race. State Sen. Becky Lourey of Kerrick could announce her candidacy soon.

Hatch is rightly considered the frontrunner, a position he’s earned by winning two statewide elections as attorney general and serving the party, and even more importantly the entire state, well in that position.

Hatch has been there when needed for northeastern Minnesota in general, the Iron Range specifically. We applaud all of his hard work for the area, especially during troubled economic times of recent years. It was good to have a friend like him as the only DFLer in state elective office.

However, the road to the nomination will not be an easy one. Facing two respected state senators and a successful businessman, Hatch will have his work cut out for him.

But regardless who wins the DFL nomination, all the candidates need to keep their focus in the coming months on what should be their primary reason to run &045; beating Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

If not, if the DFL campaign turns bitter and personal, the winner could be left with a dysfunctional political party running against an incumbent governor who is personable, still has solid poll numbers with Minnesota and will have a big campaign war chest to dip into and no primary opposition.

If that happens, the DFL winner will have a most difficult uphill climb from primary to general election.

&045; Mesabi Daily News of Virginia