Robyne Robinson Makes Her Own News

Yesterday, Robyne Robinson signed off after two decades as news anchor for KMSP, Channel 9.

Today, on his Twitter post, Minnesota DFL gubernatorial candidate Matt Entenza announced that he had chosen Robinson to run with him as his lieutenant governor.  It was probably the worst-kept secret since Brett Favre decided he wanted to play for the Minnesota Vikings.

It also raised a lot of questions.  When Robinson announced her resignation from the TV station a couple of weeks ago--at the same time WCCO's Don Shelby did, stealing his thunder--she said it was so she could concentrate on her burgeoning jewelry business.  Few people believed that, because they figured something else was going on that might have prompted a career switch.

Also, when reports surfaced that Robinson was considering Entenza's offer, she continued to anchor Fox 9's newscasts, leaving the political stories (some of them involving her) to others.  Seeing that most news organizations frown on journalists who seek political office while on the payroll, KMSP should have pulled Robinson off the air immediately if she didn't do so first.

Robinson isn't the first former KMSP news anchor to get into politics.  Rod Grams became a U.S. Senator for one term.  Heather Harden served on the Bloomington City Council from 2000-2005.

As for Entenza, the former state legislator has so far spent thousands of dollars on TV ads portraying himself as a humble attorney from Worthington who claims that "we can't cut our way to greatness".  That money comes courtesy of his wife Lois Quam, who used to be an executive with United Health Care, which happens to be one of the largest health insurance providers in the country.

For all that, however, Entenza is barely making a dent in the polls prior to the August DFL primary against former Senator Mark Dayton and the party's endorsed candidate Margaret Anderson Kelliher.  One of these three will go on to face Republican Dick Emmer for the job now held by Governor Tim Pawlenty.

Maybe that's why Entenza chose someone with name recognition, but little political experience.  Only time will tell if this is a stroke of geniuns on Entenza's part, or a sign of desperation.  One way or another, the Entenza/Robinson ticket is already making headlines.