Mike Hatch's aggressive reputation showed through Thursday for one of the few times in this year's heated gubernatorial race.
Hatch lashed out at Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Republicans for attacking his running mate, Judi Dutcher, over a recent incident in which the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party lieutenant governor candidate appeared to know nothing about E-85 ethanol.
"This governor is afraid to debate me on issues," said Hatch, the current attorney general who recent polls show is narrowly leading Pawlenty in the governor's race. "He wants to beat up on a woman."
Hatch's anger overflowed during a Thursday morning telephone interview.
A Forum Communications reporter asked Hatch about Dutcher's knowledge of ethanol and why she wasn't available to discuss the issue. Hatch abruptly ended the interview with: "You're nothing more than a Republican whore. Goodbye." He then hung up.
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Television crews following the Duluth native Thursday reported other sharp comments when reporters pressed him for response to Dutcher's comments.
By Thursday afternoon, Dutcher was fielding interviews about the E-85 issue. E-85 is a fuel blend of 85 percent corn-based ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
