Polinaut: September 13, 2006 Archive

Do over

Posted at 3:27 AM on September 13, 2006 by Bob Collins (2 Comments)

FYI, sometime later today, I'll probably reset the Select A Candidate to remove the candidates no longer in the races and reset the tallies to zero.

Then I'll start working on the Campaign 2006 clean-up for the ceremonial moving of the losing candidates to the "withdrawn candidates" block, always a solemn ceremony at the world headquarters of Polinaut.

You may have noticed, by the way, that the C2006 site is still in the "old design." We're going to start moving that into the new design in another week or so.

And just as it did in 2004, traffic on the C2006 site, and in particular Select A Candidate spiked up after Labor Day, just as the old cliches would dictate. And Select A Candidate went through the roof. We "went live" with Campaign 2006 in January 2005 and have spent countless hours on it, most of them when we knew nobody gave a rip about the campaign, with the idea that by the time they did, we wanted a lot of candidate information there.

I probably need to start sketching out Campaign 2008. What sorts of things would you like to see on it? I'd rather not just pull stuff off the shelf and changes 6s to 8s.

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From now on, this blog is known as Andersonnaut

Posted at 9:45 AM on September 13, 2006 by Bob Collins (6 Comments)

I'm guessing that a lot of political wonks are looking at the results of the attorney general race on the Republican side today and saying, with a hint of disdain, "Sharon Anderson?".

To me, it's the best political story sitting out there today and I'm also guessing nobody is going to touch it. Which means, if nobody is going to touch it, Polinaut is going to be massaging it, especially since the mission of Polinaut....errr Andersonnaut.... is to look for signs of intelligent life in the universe of politics..

If you've come to any of the dozen or forums I've been asked to speak at in the last few years, you've heard me talk about Sharon Anderson, or more specifically, the electorate. She's the poster child for why Select A Candidate and Campaign 2006 were invented. Sharon Anderson did -- I think 12 years ago -- what she almost did last night.

With no real campaign, no money, no inclusion in A.G. debates and -- let's face it -- no real credibility as a candidate, Sharon Anderson almost knocked off another Republican-endorsed candidate for attorney general, which is absolutely no reflection on the Republican-endorsed candidate for attorney general.

Anderson garnered 43-percent of the vote to Johnson's 56-percent. That doesn't tell the whole story, however. In my neck of the woods, District 56B, Anderson won. That's Woodbury -- the Colby Lakes area, including Wedgewood, home of highly educated and mostly informed people, many quite active in the Republican Party. Johnon did win 56A, which is good news for homeowners in 56A -- by 148 votes -- and since that's the district last night's Republican Party was held in and if Anderson had knocked Johnson off, why there's a fair chance the entire district would've been sacked.

He seems to be a sincere person with some ideas worth debating. It's just that he has a serious, serious shortcoming in the world of Minnesota politics in these situations.

His name doesn't end with Anderson.

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Here comes the national media

Posted at 1:52 PM on September 13, 2006 by Bob Collins

Heard a blurb in a news meeting this morning that NPR is putting Keith Ellison on the national end of All Things Considered tonight. Don't know for sure, but I'm guessing it's based on the whole Muslim angle. I'm also guessing it won't be the last of the national media's fascination with that angle.

Let the race begin

Posted at 2:49 PM on September 13, 2006 by Bob Collins (2 Comments)

You can almost here the squeeling tires, racing to the TV stations to buiy time.

On that front...

Michele Bachmann reports she's running her first TV ad. It's on her Web site, she says.

Oh, that reminds me, I've got to get going on setting up a Select A Candidate for this race. What issues do you want to see on there besides the obvious ones?

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I'd like "political Web site trivia for $20," Alex...

Posted at 4:12 PM on September 13, 2006 by Bob Collins (4 Comments)

This is the first father-son combination to make the "former candidates" box on the MPR Web site. They ran for the same office.

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Alan Fine fires away at Keith Ellison

Posted at 4:14 PM on September 13, 2006 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)

Alan Fine, the GOP candidate running in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District, says DFL candidate Keith Ellison is "unfit to represent the voters in the fifth district." Fine, Ellison, Independence Party member Tammy Lee and Green Party candidate Jay Pond are all on the November ballot in the fifth. Fine provided a blistering criticism (some of which he couldn't back up) of Ellison at an afternoon news conference. You can listen to it here.

Ellison issued this written response:

Ellison Responds To Republican Candidate’s Remarks

Minneapolis—September 13 “The remarks about which I’ve been asked to respond to are diametrically opposed to what our campaign has been about, what my career as a public servant and a grassroots organizer has been about. To engage them is to be sullied by them.

This campaign is about inclusion, not alienation. This campaign is about reaching across the needless barriers that divide us, not erecting them. Last night’s primary election’s record turnout is all the evidence I need to know that our message of enfranchisement, of peace and a society where there are no throwaway people resonated with voters. In fact, it brought more people into the democratic process. The remarks made this afternoon by my Republican opponent are calculated to do just the opposite.

I intend to continue reaching out to the marginalized, to the disenfranchised, the dispossessed and inviting them in, to join us as we take our country back from those who would pander to our worst fears. This campaign will continue to speak to our highest hopes. And together, I am confident those hopes can be realized."

--30--

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Gov debate

Posted at 5:17 PM on September 13, 2006 by Bob Collins

The major candidates for governor have their first debate tomorrow (Thursday) at 12:30. MPR will broadcast it live and I'll be there -- although I don't even know where there is at the moment -- to "live blog" and take pictures of famous people. If you're one of them, stop by.

Update: The Chamber of Commerce has already given the candidates the questions they'll be asked. I'm sure it will all be quite spontaneous.

According to the AP, Hutchinson isn't all that thrilled by the format.

"This is sort of TV commercials done live," Hutchinson said. "It just strikes me as a little incomplete if it's all scripted, all practiced and all honed. How genuine can it be?"

Hmmmmmmr.

Gubernatorial debate on Thursday

Posted at 5:41 PM on September 13, 2006 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The three major party candidate for governor will debate at noon tomorrow at a Bloomington hotel. Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty, DFL nominee Mike Hatch and Peter Hutchinson with the Independence Party will discuss the issues in a debate sponsored by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Can't attend the debate? Minnesota Public Radio will provide live coverage.

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Hotline: NYC edging Twin Cities in race for convention bid

Posted at 6:07 PM on September 13, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Hotline says New York City is edging Minneapolis-St. Paul in the race for the 2008 DNC Convention:

According to party sources and other Democrats who have consulted with members of the party's selection committee, NYC and Minneapolis-St. Paul are right outside the winners' circle. NYC is said to have an edge -- at least for now.

Hotline says this is the drawback for the Twin Cities:

The Twin Cities' bid meets the party's nominal requirements, but several Democrats involved in the process worry about extended commutes from delegate hotels to events.