MANCHESTER, NH – Joel and Sarah Quie were out spreading the gospel of Dean Phillips on Election Day in Manchester. It was a bit out of their way – they are from Minnesota and Phillips is their beloved Congressman.
But with a loaded box of Dunkin Donuts Joel Quie, a retired Lutheran pastor and son of a Minnesota Republican governor, had nothing but good reasons for New Hampshire to take a chance on Phillips.
“He is our congressman and we’ve voted for him three times,” said Joel Quie, “He’s such a wonderful moderate. He listens to people. He has such a beautiful message that he tries to pull together both left and right from both sides of the aisle.”
Quie spent 25 years as lead pastor of Prairie Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and comes by his respect for moderate politics naturally – his great-grandfather was an original member of the Republican party and voted for Abraham Lincoln. His father, Al Quie, was almost recruited to be a vice presidential candidate twice – for both Ronald Regan and Gerald Ford.
Whatever it is dedicated Democrats or on-the-fence Undeclareds might fear about going against incumbent Joe Biden, Joel Quie says fear not.
“He has a challenge because the incumbent Joe Biden – a wonderful man who’s done great things – but because he’s 81 Dean is saying we need a new generation and I believe him,” Joel Quie said.
People within the Minnosota Democratic party are especially mad at Phillips, says the Quies, because they believe Phillips should get back in line and support Biden’s reelection campaign. But because Phillips respects Biden so much, he is honest enough to say that beating Trump is what is most important.
“President 45 brought disrespect to people and so much negativity and it’s just been like pollution. Dean and President Biden have done a good job pushing away that pollution and so we need to stop that,” Joel Quies said. “Dean is the person who can keep that going.”