When Republicans from around the state flocked to the Ramada Mall of America last Saturday, there appeared to be little question who would win the race to replace Brian Sullivan as Minnesota's man on the Republican National Committee.

It may have been the first day of the fair, but by noon or so last Thursday the scent of frier grease smelled like it had been hanging in the air all summer. And the politicos seemed like they'd been there pressing flesh even longer. Is anyone shocked that there isn't exactly a public stampede to hear what the 2010 gubernatorial candidates have to say just yet?