Leader in Minn. governor race meets current boss

Published 8:10 am Tuesday, November 9, 2010

ST. PAUL  — For the second straight day, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is meeting with someone who could take his job.

Pawlenty is scheduled to sit down Tuesday afternoon with Democrat Mark Dayton to discuss a possible transition of power. Dayton is the current vote leader in an unsettled race headed for a likely recount.

The current governor met Monday with Republican candidate Tom Emmer. Meanwhile, Emmer is breaking a nearly weeklong public silence with a Capitol news conference Tuesday afternoon. Republicans are well into planning for the recount and whatever follows.

Pawlenty says he wants to help both men get ready to take the reins. He’s made top budget officials and other advisers available to discuss a transition complicated by the recount.

Dayton leads Emmer by more than 8,700 votes.