A new video shows Democrat Joe Radinovich repeatedly refusing to answer questions surrounding the abuse allegations against Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN-05), who is now running for Minnesota attorney general.
The video, obtained by America Rising PAC, shows Radinovich walking away from a Republican tracker on two separate occasions while she tries to ask the candidate about the Ellison accusations.
“I just have a couple questions for you. I was wondering how you feel about Keith Ellison. Do you believe Keith Ellison’s accusers?” she asks. In response, however, Radinovich stops to take a “picture of this duck.”
“I’m a duck hunter. I can’t see any mallards right now out in the duck blinds,” he responds. In a second instance, Radinovich simply smiles and walks away, correcting the tracker when she mispronounces his name.
“It’s Radinovich. Nice to see you,” he says before driving away.
Ellison is currently facing multiple domestic-abuse allegations, but a recent Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party investigation into the matter concluded that the accusations against him are “unsubstantiated.” Republicans, however, are continuing to use the allegations against their Democratic opponents, most of whom refuse to comment on the accusations.
A Congressional Leadership Fund ad, for instance, targeted Radinovich and several of his Democratic colleagues for “standing by” Ellison amid the accusations.
“Joe Radinovich is standing by Keith Ellison. Backing Ellison instead of believing his victim? Joe Radinovich should be ashamed,” the ad states.
In a recent KSTP and Survey USA poll, 40 percent of likely Minnesota voters said that the abuse allegations will play a “factor” in whether or not they will vote for Ellison, compared to 39 percent who dismissed the accusations.
“This is anybody’s race. Ellison is vulnerable in a way other Democrats are not,” political scientist Steven Schier said, though Radinovich is also in a tight race with Republican Pete Stauber for Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District.
According to The New York Times, Radinovich currently leads Stauber 44 percent to 43 percent—a statistical tie.
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
