Briefing - Friday February 10, 2006

Posted at 8:29 AM on February 10, 2006 by Bob Collins

Larry Sabato's article on Townhall.com (turn the pop-up blocker on!) turns his crystal ball back on and sees a 5 to 10 seat gain in the U.S. House in November. The only mention of Minnesota is an acknowledgement that Coleen Rowley is "stumbling."

...but with continued momentum and new openings brought about by the wildcard of scandal, today's minority would quickly be within reach of "running the table" Pittsburgh-style all the way to a paper-thin majority. Such a consequential "six-year itch" outcome would certainly prove a giant rash for the Bush Administration's final two years.

You've probably (or maybe not) seen the AP story on this site regarding the money flowing into the campaign regarding the definition of marriage debate in Minnesota. The Minnesota Daily also has a related article on the subject today. The debate hasn't generated anywhere near enough consideration in analyzing November. Does it make it on the ballot? Does it become an issue anyway? In 2004, it certainly seemed to trail only Iraq in the "emotion" factor. Odd, too, that the bill in Congress hasn't gotten any juice in the attention market. But steroids in baseball -- not a campaign issue in 2004 -- did.

According to the AP, "good-government groups are using the Internet and interactive mapping technology to chart how mass media affect elections — using Peru's rugged, village-dotted countryside as a testing ground." Whew. Thank goodness that could never happen here.

Chuckles

"President Bush unveiled his new $2.2 trillion budget. The president settled on $2 trillion after being told that $2 bazillion was not a real number."

--- Conan O'Brien

It's quiet out there today. Too quiet.

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