Tony Sutton: Savior of Minnesota's Republican Party?

Exposure is key with the departure of Tim Pawlenty to the national stage and Norm Coleman in limbo, which leaves the party with a roster of lesser-knowns.

"It's a very important time," says Larry Jacobs, noted political scientist at the University of Minnesota. "For a while the Republicans had a starting five and a strong bench. I think this is a period of nervousness. Where do we go? Where is the next generation of leaders?"

Nick Vlcek

New GOP Boss Tony Sutton

courtesy of Tony Sutton

In 1987, 19-year-old Young Republican Sutton sold enough dinner tickets to meet Bob Dole at a fundraiser held at the St. Paul Civic Center

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• Tony Sutton
• Brian Sullivan
• Tim Pawlenty
• U.S. Conservative Politics
• Government and Politics

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Somehow, that prospect doesn't faze Sutton. He takes the question and laughs.

"That is a problem with political scientists: They are always looking back a little bit. There are a lot of people that are coming up. Look at Laura Brod, Paul Kohls, Marty Seifert...the list goes on," he says. "I don't want to wax too poetically, but the Golden Age could be coming up."

IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT and the Metrodome is placid. Unoccupied seats provide Twins fans an opportunity to stretch out and hang their legs on the seats below.

As a bag of baby-blue cotton candy floats over a row of fans, Sutton leans over and says, "You want to see someone who works? Watch those vendors. Up and down the entire game. That's work, man."

For being the head of the GOP, Sutton remains an anonymous face. No one at the game recognizes him, which Sutton doesn't seem to mind, as he's always been a behind-the-scenes player. He's even forgoing the standard three-figure salary his position pays. Instead, he's using the money to hire more staff.

"It's never been about the job," he says. "Always about the principles."

As the game stretches into the late innings, Sutton tells tales about his passion for Minnesota and its politics. But of the many stats, anecdotes, and historic asides, there is one he seems to love the most: There hasn't been a Democrat elected as governor of Minnesota since 1986.

"I think it says a lot about our state."