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Capitol View®
Catharine Richert

McFadden focuses on bio, values at GOP convention

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McFadden
At the state Republican convention in Rochester, Mike McFadden touts his biography and conservative values. (Tom Scheck/MPR News)

Mike McFadden, a candidate seeking to challenge Sen. Al Franken in the general election, says both parties in Washington are falling down on the job.

“I’m here today because Washington is broken,” McFadden said to the crowd. “Republicans in charge, Democrats in charge. It hasn’t mattered.”

“We have to do better,” McFadden said.

McFadden is co-CEO of financial services firm Lazard Middle Market, but has taken a leave of absence from the firm to campaign. So far, McFadden has the fundraising lead among the candidates. He also has the backing of high-profile members of the Republican establishment.

Much of McFadden’s speech focused on his biography, a tactic meant to introduce himself to potentially undecided delegates.

McFadden has been criticized for being vague on his policy positions, and his speech to delegates didn’t offer any more details. Instead, he listed core values that he – and the party – believe in.

“We believe that America is the greatest country but that our government has grown too intrusive and too large,” McFadden said.

Among other things, McFadden said the Affordable Care Act is “a total disaster” and that the Common Core should be abolished.

McFadden’s speech was peppered with heckling from the crowd who yelled “Respect the endorsement.”

While McFadden is seeking the party’s endorsement, he has long said he will compete in the primary if he isn't endorsed.

After McFadden spoke, Monti Moreno, who is also running for U.S. Senate, spoke to the delegates.

Moreno is a bison farmer and former hair salon owner. In 1996, when he was seeking the party endorsement to run against U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, Moreno wielded a musket on stage.

Moreno showed up without his gun this time, but said he would protect the right to bear arms in Washington. He also pledged to abolish the Affordable Care Act.

“I believe the people who wrote the Constitution are smarter than those who are now trying to destroy it,” he said.