Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie speaks at a fundraiser for the Democratic, Farmer and Labor Party a month before being tasked with overseeing a recount between incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and Al Franken.
The man overseeing the controversial chat in Minnesota between incumbent GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and comedian-turned-candidate Al Franken is a high-profile Democratic cheerleader with ties to far-left organizations including ACORN and the Communist Party USA.
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie has not performed his role in the traditionally impartial manner expected of the office, giving money to the Minnesota Democratic Farm Workers Party and speaking to the press at the Democratic National Convention about “how Democrats can influence voters in areas “rural”. ”
Most disturbingly, ACORN and Communist Party USA officials supported his candidacy for Secretary of State. Ritchie even highlighted ACORN’s endorsement on his campaign website.
Ritchie once worked as a leader of a coalition group working with ACORN in 2004. As executive director of National Voice, Ritchie worked with many left-wing get-out-the-vote organizations such as ACORN and People for the American Much under the umbrella group “The November 2nd Project.”
ACORN is currently under investigation for fraudulent activities, including: in Ritchie State. The group is accused of failing to turn over registration documents within the required 10-day period in Hennepin and Ramsey counties.
The Communist Party USA wrote on its website that Ritchie “can play a valuable national role” in protecting voter rights, unlike the roles played by Republican Secretaries of State Katharine Harris of Florida and Ken Blackwell of Ohio in previous elections.
The hard-hitting Minnesota blog Minnesota Democrats Exposed has consistently criticized Ritchie for his liberal leanings. Blog posted a photo (above) of Ritchie standing and speaking in front of a podium marked “Obama-Biden” at a Democratic Agricultural Workers’ Party fundraiser in October. Blogger Michael B. Brodkorb contrasted this with statements from his office claiming impartiality in the weeks before Election Day.
The Minnesota Star Tribune gives Republican Sen. Coleman a narrow 239 lead over Democrat Franken. The race was originally called by the AP for Coleman, but his winning margin was so slim that Minnesota law required a recount.
Update: I’m not the only one in this. Matthew Vadum has more details on Ritchie HERE.
