Polinaut: January 11, 2006 Archive

Lynch to run for Kiscaden's seat

Posted at 10:51 AM on January 11, 2006 by Bob Collins

Rochester School Board member Ann Lynch announced today she will seek the Senate seat being vacated by Sheila Kiscaden. Kiscaden has joined the Kelly Doran gubernatorial campaign as the lt. gov candidate.

Kiscaden was at the news conference to endorse Lynch, who is a DFLer.

Yes, there really is a Ford Bell

Posted at 2:16 PM on January 11, 2006 by Bob Collins

Senate candidate Ford Bell hasn't been getting much attention. The Pipestone County Star, however, gave him the once-over today.

THIS AND THAT

The survey says...

Posted at 4:10 PM on January 11, 2006 by Bob Collins

Two surveys are out today that have caught Polinaut's eye. The first, from the Pew Center reports few people are paying attention to either the Abramoff story or the Alito nomination.

It also reports a "growing Democratic advantage" on Iraq and domestic concerns. Forty-one percent of those surveyed believe Democrats are the best party to handle the nation's problems -- with a high score of 50% on Iraq (vs. 31% for the GOP) and a low score of 34 percent on security/terrorism. The latter -- as it's usually been...was the high mark for Republicans (52%).

This presents a difficult situation for Republicans. Clearly a strategy aimed at increasing security/terrorism as an issue would benefit them. But Iraq is now the Republican weakness and the GOP has linked terrorism and Iraq so much since 2003 that drawing a distinction now will certainly be a challenge.

Part of that survey, by the way, said 81 percent of those surveyed think it's "common" for lobbyists to bribe congressmen. Given the high incumbency rate, we presume those surveyed don't believe their congressman is on the take.

Meanwhile, A Quinnipiac poll shows little harm to Sen. Joe Lieberman for his support of the war in Iraq. But they're holding it against President Bush.

The new poll shows that Connecticut voters strongly oppose the war and give President George Bush low approval ratings. Sixty-one percent of voters disapprove of the job Bush is doing, compared to 35 percent who approve.

Entenza in the crosshairs

Posted at 5:44 PM on January 11, 2006 by Bob Collins

DFLer Matt Entenza, who is running for attorney general, gets roughed up pretty well in the City Pages article, United He Stands. Specifically, the article suggests Entenza, as attorney general, would have a light approach to health care organizations, since his wife is an executive with United Health Group.

Minnesota Democrats Exposed says Rep. Al Juhnke e-mailed the article to members of the DFL caucus, suggesting that Juhnke wants Entenza removed as House Minority Leader as long as he's going to be spending time running for attorney general. Just for the record, Juhnke, and every other state represenative (unless they've chosen not to), will also be running for office in November.