The Daily Digest: 8-28-06

Posted at 10:54 AM on August 28, 2006 by Tom Scheck

The Governor's race leads the digest today.

As reported earlier, the Wall Street Journal's Zogby Poll (subscription required) says DFL endorsed Mike Hatch is leading Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty in the race for governor. Hatch is polling at 43.1%. Pawlenty is at 40.6%. The poll says Peter Hutchinson, with the Independence Party, is polling in the single digits. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.9% so this race is really tight.

Candidates for state office are also required to file their campaign finance reports today. Pawlenty's campaign says they have $2 million in the bank. Pawlenty raised $3.7 million during this election cycle. Hatch is also expected to report a large campaign war chest since he's been running a lean campaign so far.

There have also been reports that the candidates for governor will appear in several debates in mid September. As you already know, Pawlenty and Hatch declined to attend the MPR debate at the MN State Fair. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce says the candidates will appear at the chamber debate on September 14th.

A group called Envision Minnesota also says the candidates will debate in St. Cloud on September 16th.

Pawlenty's 2002 rival, Independence Party member Tim Penney, writes that Pawlenty should attend the debates. Penny was also a DFLer when he served in Congress.

Pawlenty's campaign also hit the tv airwaves with their first ad. You can watch the ad on their website.

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) also reports that candidates are looking to spend advertising money on cable:

Though most political ad dollars traditionally are spent after Labor Day, tight primaries and early spending on House, Senate and gubernatorial races have pushed local TV-ad spending above $311 million as of mid-August, up 45% from the same point in 2004 and more than three times as much as in 2002, according to Campaign Media Analysis Group, a division of TNS Media Intelligence, which tracks political ad spending. All political ad buys by mid-year, including issue ads, ballot initiatives and other issues, have pushed spending above $700 million nationally, the firm says.

The race for Minnesota's open senate seat will also heat up this week. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) will campaign with Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy at the Minnesota State Fair on Tuesday.

Kennedy also attended the rededication ceremony of a war memorial in Rochester. Former GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole spoke at the event.

The Star Tribune's Pat Lopez says the Hennepin County Attorney's Office is being inundated with data practices requests from the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee.

The Star Tribune also has a story on political art at the fair and how politicians are working to stand out in a sea of humanity at the "great Minnesota get together."

The Washington Post takes a look at the abortion debate in South Dakota and has another story saying Democrats are split on the war.

The blog, centrisity, is reporting that the DFL candidates for attorney general will debate on WCCO after the Twins game.

DFLer Tim Walz says the Rochester Chamber of Commerce will host a 1st District debate on September 11th at 12:15. Walz is running against GOP Congressman Gil Gutknecht.

And finally, the Denver Post is reporting that Denver's efforts to win the 2008 DNC Convention hit a snag. The paper reports that the region doesn't have a union hotel.

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