But while Minter received a boost from a handful of popular national Democrats, including the president, Scott has received the backing of a more politically diverse set of Vermont politicians.
Minter’s biggest endorsements include Vermont’s three members of Congress, particularly Sen. Bernie Sanders, who have toured the state on her behalf. Her big-name endorsements also included President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
As part of a tour to promote his Cancer Moonshot project, Biden visited Burlington in late October to have breakfast with Minter and offer his two thumbs up. Obama recorded a radio ad on behalf of Minter that has been converted into a television spot that runs on local channels frequently.
In addition, Minter has received the backing of some of the Democratic Party’s top female stars, including U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, and Kirsten Gillibrand, of New York.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown endorsed Minter on a press call Friday, and U.S. Sen. Al Franken visited Burlington last week to help get out the Democratic party vote.
These endorsements from political stars garner attention and may help excite the base of Vermont Democrats to get to the polls Tuesday. But the kind words don’t generally come from intimate personal experience with Minter.
In his visit to Vermont, Franken admitted to Seven Days that he had never met Minter before his visit to Vermont. Oregon’s Brown accidentally referred to the former transportation secretary as Sue “Mintner” on the press call.
Minter spokesman Elliot Bent said Minter and Warren had met before but did not elaborate on when, or what the circumstances were.
In her Sunday endorsement, Warren said she was enthusiastic about supporting Minter.
“She has always stood up for Vermont’s middle class families and has a strong agenda of making Vermont more affordable for students, seniors, women and workers across the state,” the liberal senator said in a statement. “When the national Republican Party continues to drive a dangerous agenda that looks out for the wealthy while leaving the middle class behind, or when they try to chip away at women’s opportunity at every chance, Sue Minter will fight back against those extreme policies.”
Minter has also secured the endorsement of 104 current and former state legislators — all of whom are either Democrats or Progressives. She has also received the backing of former Democratic governors, including Howard Dean, Madeleine Kunin and Phil Hoff.
Scott, meanwhile, has earned 96 endorsements from current and former colleagues in the Statehouse, a list that includes eight Democrats as well as independents and even a couple of Progressives. Scott is also endorsed by former Republican Gov. Jim Douglas.
Grand Isle Democratic Sen. Dick Mazza has endorsed Scott, calling him “a centrist, pro-choice Vermonter with the right combination of business experience and public service to be our next governor.”
Ed Stanak, the former president of the Vermont State Employees’ Association, is also backing Scott.
“I didn’t make this decision lightly,” Stanak said Monday. “I’ve exchanged in hand-to-hand combat with state Republicans over the years.”
Stanak said his main opposition to Minter comes from her support of industrial wind projects, a path he said would wreak profound damage on Vermont’s environment and public health. He said that while he does not agree with Scott on a number of issues, “Phil is not cut from the same cloth of the national Republicans.”
Stanak’s former organization, the VSEA, has endorsed Minter this election.
Minter’s support from other advocacy groups includes:
• Outdoor Industry Association
• Sierra Club
• Democracy for America
• Planned Parenthood
• Vermont Conservation Voters
• Vermont chapter of the National Education Association
• Vermont AFL-CIO
• Professional Fire Fighters of Vermont
• Plumbers, Pipefitters, HVACR Service Technicians Vermont
• Vermont Building Trades
• Patient Choices Vermont
• Marijuana Policy Project
• Everytown for Gun Safety
• Americans for Responsible Solutions
Scott’s endorsements from advocacy organizations include:
• Vermont Sheriffs’ Association
• Vermont Police Association
• Vermont Troopers’ Association
• Vermont Vehicle and Automotive Distributors Association
• Vermont Realtors Association
• Association of General Contractors
• National Federation of Independent Businesses
Minter beat Scott on major newspaper endorsements, earning the support of The Burlington Free Press, The Times Argus and the Rutland Herald, the Valley News, the Stowe Reporter, the Waterbury Record, the News and Citizen of Morrisville and the Addison Independent.
“Minter’s well-articulated agenda, combined with her experience in the Legislature and the executive branch, make her the candidate best prepared to face the complexity of the tasks that await the next governor,” the Free Press editorial reads.
Scott received the endorsements of the Bennington Banner, the Caledonian Record and the St. Albans Messenger.
“Mr. Scott’s strength is that he intuitively understands Vermont is over-burdened at many levels, and that we need some time to do well what we have already been tasked to do,” the St. Albans Messenger editorial reads.
Evidence suggests that the main boost candidates get from endorsements is news coverage, which can, in turn, sway voters. Endorsements are seen as more consequential in primary elections, and since 1980 the single best predictor of a party’s nominee has been the number of endorsements from party elites.
In national politics this year, endorsements have carried less power, as many voters say they are frustrated by party elites and uninterested in what special interest groups have to say. In Vermont, it’s unclear what the impact of various endorsements will be.
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