Polinaut: August 15, 2006 Archive

Couple of things going on today...

Posted at 7:33 AM on August 15, 2006 by Mike Mulcahy

Gov. Tim Pawlenty hinted on Midday yesterday that Minnesota job numbers are way up. They must be, because he's going to release the latest numbers himself at the Capitol today.

On the DFL side Sen. Becky Lourey is ripping Mike Hatch for not debating before the Sept. 12 primary.

DFLer Secretary of State candidate Mark Ritchie is using the case of an IP candidate for Legislature to bash Republican incumbent Mary Kiffmeyer. MPR's Laura McCallum has that story.

In an unreated case the state Supreme Court will hear the challenge to Rep. Gil Gutknecht's petition to be on the ballot. Kiffmeyer is backing Gutknecht.

The Daily Digest - 8:15:06

Posted at 10:19 AM on August 15, 2006 by Tom Scheck

I'm back from an extended weekend vacation and staring at an inbox of several hundred e-mails. That means the digest will be short today. Anyway, Twin Cities officials and MN GOP leaders court the RNC. The Star Tribune, the Pi Press and MPR all have stories.

On the Democratic side, DNC Convention Watch is reporting that Denver is getting a second look but may have some union issues.

The Bemidji Pioneer is reporting on a Mark Kennedy fundraiser in that city and looks ahead to his statewide tour:
Kennedy announced his “Right kind of change” plan on Saturday, and will flesh out its details later this week, starting in Winona. But he held the 14-page agenda aloft while speaking to Beltrami Republicans.

In the next several days I will be rolling out my plan, because you shouldn’t just be hearing complaining, you ought to be saying what is your solutions,” Kennedy said. “And you’re not going to get the right kind of change unless you have a plan for what kind of change you’re going to achieve.

The Associated Press has a story on Minnesota getting the attention of national heavyweights:

All the attention is focused on Minnesota because of several competitive races that could help tip the balance of power in the U.S. House and Senate. The big names help local candidates raise substantial sums of money and rally their supporters.

There are also plenty of ballot challenges going on. The DFL wants GOP Congressman Gil Gutknecht off of the ballot. MPR's Laura McCallum reports that an I-P candidate wants to be on the ballot.

GOP Congressman John Kline apologizes to the Marines under investigation in the killings of two dozen civilians in Haditha, Iraq.

Former state Senator Ember Reichgott Junge gets the endorsement of Emily's List. The Star Tribune says it could bring some national street cred to her campaign.

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, who ran for president two years ago, will hold a fundraiser for state Rep. Keith Ellison's run for Congress.

The Star Tribune has a story on the proposed constitutional amendment regarding transportation funding.

The LATimes has a story on a push to register more evangelical Christians. Minnesota is one of the states getting the attention.

The Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters endorse Governor Pawlenty's for governor.

The St. Cloud Times has a story on Mayor Dave Kleis' first budget proposal.

Roll Call has a profile (subscription required) on MN GOP Deputy Chairman Eric Hoplin. It says he's going places:

In his first year as deputy chairman, Hoplin, a devout Republican since the fifth grade, has logged thousands of miles driving around the state meeting with candidates and party activists. He estimated he spends, on average, about two-thirds of his time each week outside of the office.

Finally, it isn't an election if there isn't a lawn sign controversy. Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher offers a reward for missing (stolen?) lawn signs.

As always, check out MPR's Campaign 2006 site for all of your campaign related needs.

MPR's Midday today

Posted at 10:45 AM on August 15, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Pam Ellison, who is running for Governor as an Independence Party candidate, will be on Midday today at 11. DFL Senator Mark Dayton and GOP Senator Norm Coleman will take questions at noon.

Kennedy campaign is up with latest tv ad

Posted at 5:46 PM on August 15, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Mark Kennedy, the Republican endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate, has a new television ad that focuses on gas prices. Kennedy says he supports a suspension of the federal gas tax and wants to repeal some tax cuts to oil companies and invest that money in alternative energy solutions like ethanol, hydrogen and hybrids.

DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez was quick to criticize the ad. He said Kennedy is trying to fix a problem he helped create. Melendez said Kennedy voted against ending $5 billion in tax breaks to oil companies and took $120,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas companies.

Heidi Frederickson, a spokeswoman for Kennedy's campaign, said Kennedy has opposed several oil company initiatives. They include drilling in national parks and stand alone legislation that would authorize drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Kennedy voted for a defense appropriations bill that would allow drilling in ANWR). She also said the tax breaks were included in an energy bill that had bipartisan support.

Odds and ends

Posted at 6:26 PM on August 15, 2006 by Tom Scheck

MPR's Laura McCallum has a story on Minnesota's recent job growth. Governor Pawlenty held a news conference on the news that Minnesota added nearly 12-thousand jobs last month.

Meanwhile, Kennedy vs. the Machine, is reporting that former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani will hold a fundraiser for GOP Congressman Mark Kennedy on August 29th.

Brian Bakst with the Associated Press says parents who want to know how their local school is doing will have to wait a little longer.

Finally, the Rochester Post Bulletin has an interesting story on lawn signs and when it's appropriate to use the term "re-elect"