ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Former Vice President Walter Mondale first joined the Senate in 1964 when his political mentor Hubert Humphrey became vice president.
Now Democrats are trying to convince the elder statesman to pick up the mantle of Democratic-Farmer-Labor politics yet again, this time to step into the void left by Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., killed in a plane crash last Friday with seven others.
Wellstone's sons have asked Mondale to take their father's place on the Nov. 5 election ballot, opposing Republican Norm Coleman, the former mayor of St. Paul, who ran a largely negative campaign against Wellstone. Coleman suspended all campaign activity until after Tuesday's memorial service for Wellstone and Mondale has indicated he will withhold a decision until after that as well.
Democrats will hold an open meeting Wednesday night to pick a replacement. About 875 state Central Committee delegates and alternates are expected to participate. Other possible candidates include former Minnesota Vikings football star Alan Page, who is currently an associate justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court; Mondale's lawyer-son, Ted; Humphrey's son, "Skip"; one of Wellstone's surviving sons, David or Mark; one of Minnesota's congressmen, and Attorney General Mike Hatch.
Mondale, 74, first served in the Senate from 1964 to 1976. If he returns, he will become the seventh vice president to do so -- the last, Humphrey, who first served in the Senate from 1949 to 1964 and then from 1971 until his death in 1978.
Wellstone's oldest son, David, met with Mondale during the weekend. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and labor leader John Sweeney also are pressuring the former vice president.
"The choice of the Wellstone family is Mr. Mondale," Mike Erlandson, DFL chairman, told CNN. "Mondale said if the Democratic Party would ask him to run, he would absolutely consider that."
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., held a news conference Sunday outside Wellstone's campaign headquarters and praised Mondale as "a hero of mine. I think there is little doubt that the people of Minnesota and the people of our country could unite behind his leadership." Earlier in the day, he called Mondale "a great unifier."
Mondale's last appearance on the political stage was as the Democratic presidential candidate in 1984. He lost to incumbent Republican President Ronald Reagan. Later, he was appointed ambassador to Japan by President Bill Clinton and served from 1993 to 1997.
Political strategists were trying to assess the impact a Mondale candidacy would have on the race. Coleman was President George W. Bush's handpicked candidate to challenge Wellstone and the president had been planning to campaign with Coleman in Minnesota this week. It was unclear whether the president still planned to do so.
Wellstone's campaign manager, Jeff Blodgett, said the late senator's campaign organization would be at Mondale's disposal if he chooses to run.
The latest Minneapolis Star Tribune poll had Wellstone leading Coleman 47 percent to 41 percent, with 12 percent undecided and an error rate of 3 percent. The poll of 1,048 likely voters was conducted Oct. 11-16.
Republicans didn't wait for any official word from Mondale or the Democrats before taking on the former vice president. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., led the attack with an appearance Sunday on "Meet the Press." State GOP leaders tried to redefine the race as a generational thing, between the old guard, Mondale, and the future, Coleman.
Whatever happens, Gov. Jesse Ventura said Monday he expects the results to wind up in court, especially in light of word from the board of elections that any absentee ballots already cast for Wellstone won't be counted but any for Coleman will. Those who already voted absentee can request a supplemental Senate ballot in person and recast their votes but state law prohibits a second absentee ballot from being mailed.
