WIN Minnesota director moves to Obama campaign

Expect some changes at President Barack Obama's Minnesota re-election office.

Starting Monday, Jeff Blodgett, who was executive director of WIN Minnesota, will direct Obama's state campaign. Blodgett had the same job in 2008.

Blodgett's replacement at WIN Minnesota is Adam Duininck, who previously served as legislative and political director for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49.

"Our number one goal is to take back the Legislature for progressives," Duinick said. "We need to take back our state from tea party extremists and get the focus back on bread and butter issues such as jobs, economic fairness and building our roads, schools and infrastructure."

WIN Minnesota raises cash for political groups, most notably the Alliance for a Better Minnesota, which helped Gov. Mark Dayton win the 2010 gubernatorial election.

One of WIN Minnesota's most generous donors is Alida Messinger, Dayton's ex-wife and daughter of John D. Rockefeller III. She also serves on WIN Minnesota's board, and Blodgett is considered once of her closest advisers.

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