The Daily Digest: 8-25-06

Posted at 12:46 PM on August 25, 2006 by Tom Scheck

The Minnesota State Fair leads the digest today. Rochelle Olson, with the Star Tribune, has a story focusing on the MPR debate. She also has a list of the other debates coming up in that race.

Pat Lopez, with the Star Tribune, focuses on next week's senate debate and why there isn't a gubernatorial debate.

Don Davis with Forum Communications has a story on politicking at the fair. So does the Star Tribune.

The AP and the Star Tribune have stories on the hearing in Ramsey County District Court regarding Mike Hatch. Hatch wants to remove a different judge from a trial regarding two consumer protection cases. Hatch said the issue was in the hands of the judge when asked about it today.

Hatch says he's sending members of the office of Attorney General to southern Minnesota to ensure that consumers damaged by the storm aren't ripped off. It may be because his chief political rival, Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty, is also touring the damaged areas. The governor will have a hold a news conference and conference call to discuss the damage.

Pawlenty is also scheduled to appear at a fundraiser in Brooklyn Park this evening for state rep. candidate Andrew Reinhardt. Contributions are $50, a private roundtable with Pawlenty is $250.

The Washington Post's "The Fix" isn't even listing the Pawlenty/Hatch/Hutchinson/other candidates race in the top 15 of races.

Pawlenty has also scheduled a 9/11 memorial.

Finally, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette says the tv networks are pushing the RNC and DNC to have one city host both conventions. Some DNC insiders believe the perfect place would be Minneapolis for the RNC and St. Paul for the DNC:

With the conventions back to back, at least some network officials have told party organizers they want both conventions in the same city. That would cut the cost of shipping all the TV equipment.

At a recent gathering of Democrats in Denver -- which is hoping to land the Democratic convention -- some party members buzzed that the TV pitch would lead to a Minnesota win, with one convention in St. Paul and the other in Minneapolis.

"It would make it easier for TV. But it's not possible," said Aaron McLear, a Republican National Committee spokesman. "The staging, the lighting, is all different for each party. They need time to set up."

The only problem is that Twin Cities officials say they don't want to host both conventions.

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories