Polinaut: October 30, 2006 Archive

The ad

Posted at 9:56 AM on October 30, 2006 by Bob Collins (4 Comments)

Apparently, I would make a lousy Southerner. I am -- as luck would have it -- the only person in America who watched this ad the first time and didn't take away a message that "Rep. Harold Ford is coming for your white women, Tennessee."

Now, don't get me wrong, I think it's a pretty scuzzy ad, as campaign ads go. But when I first saw it, my thought was that they -- the Republicans -- were trying to get through to the audience that Harold Ford hangs out with women who are -- oh, geez, how do I say it -- not the type you bring home to Mom -- you know, women who take their clothes off and want to be photographed naked. All to suggest that Harold Ford -- in a campaign season where morals has been injected -- by the Democrats no less -- as a campaign issue -- parties hard.

That's a pretty negative message in the Bible belt.

And then I started reading that this recalls the "Southern strategy."

The LA Times was the latest newspaper -- that I saw -- that delved into this angle.

Granted, I'm not the smartest bulb in the pack. I often don't see the obvious. But other than history, what is it about this ad -- exactly -- that is not about the candidate's party habits -- as defined by the Republicans, anyway? I know nothing about Harold Ford -- and is about race?

Is it that there are no African Americans in the ad?

Reading some of the op-ed pieces and blogs (like Huffington Post), the name I keep coming up with is former Sen. William Cohen, who said the ad "appeals to a racist sentiment." Cohen is a Republican.

The Guardian doesn't even bother with the old "alleged' pass, preferring instead to present the allegation -- which again may be true, and may not be:

The advert outraged many because it plays to an old racial/sexual stereotype that still has a powerful resonance in southern states such as Tennessee: accusations of sexual relationships between black men and white women were often used as excuses for lynchings in the Deep South.

The Moderate Voice makes it even murkier:

You don't have to be p.c. or a liberal to conclude (as many already have as you'll SEE BELOW): it's saying to voters "he likes white women."

What do you mean by "likes," there, buddy?

Like the Willie Horton ad, this one will be a good vehicle for a discussion of race and politics -- after the election.

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The Daily Digest: 10-30-06

Posted at 12:20 PM on October 30, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Get out the vote efforts lead the digest today and will stay near the top from here on out. Republican Governor Pawlenty, DFLer Mike Hatch and the I-P's Peter Hutchinson are out on the campaign trail today. The Ap's Brian Bakst kicks off the start of the horse race coverage with this story.

There also seems to be an increase in absentee ballot requests says KARE-11.

The Governor's Race
Hutchinson was on MPR's Midmorning program. You can listen here.

The St. Cloud Times has a story that both Hatch and Pawlenty will campaign in St. Cloud today.

Last night the three participated in a KSTP-TV debate. MPR, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press and the AP have stories.

There were plenty of endorsement over the weekend. And all three candidates can celebrate. The Rochester Post Bulletin and the Star Tribune's Dennis Anderson endorse Pawlenty.

The Star Tribune and the Mankato Free Press endorse Hatch.

The Pi Press endorses Hutchinson.

I guess that clears that up.

WCCO's Pat Kessler profiles Pawlenty and Hutchinson.

The Star Tribune profiles Pawlenty, details his track record and lists some things you don't know about him.

The opening lines of this AP story on Hutchinson are marvelous.

Don Davis, with Forum Communications, has a story that says the race for governor hinges on education and health care.

U.S. Senate race

Amy Klobuchar will also be working the GOTV stuff and will have some help from a friend from Illinois. Illinois Senator, and possible presidential hopeful, Barack Obama will hold a rally for Klobuchar and 1st District congressional candidate Tim Walz in Rochester tonight. Klobuchar's camp expects 1,000 people at the event.

Former V.P. Al Gore will hold a rally for Klobuchar on Thursday.

Klobuchar also racked up the endorsements over the weekend. The Star Tribune and the Pi Press backed her.

Oh, there was also a debate last night. KSTP-TV and the League of Women Voters also hosted a U.S. Senate debate on Sunday. MPR, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press and the AP have stories.

Klobuchar is also leading Kennedy in campaign cash in the bank account. The Star Tribune takes a look at where the money is coming from.

Speaking of fundraiaing, Forum Communications Scott Wente has an interesting look at fundraising and finds that most prefer to write a check.

The Wall Street Journal's opinion page mentions Kennedy's ad in an online forum.

WCCO-TV's Pat Kessler also reality checks the comments the late Senator Paul Wellstone made before the war.

The 1st

The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the race in Minnesota's 1st District and describes Democrat Tim Walz as an "everyman."

The Washington Post puts the 1st and the 6th in its list of top 35 races.

The Post also mentions the 1st as one of the races the Dems could win.

The Wall Street Journal wonders if all those pundits are right.

The Rothenberg Political Report also mentions Walz in this write-up.

One reason Walz may be gaining ground is because voter sentiment may be changing in the Midwest, says CQ Politics.

Forum Communications also says Democrats are seeing a boost in rural support.

The 6th
The Star Tribune has a story on the candidate debate between Republican Michele Bachmann, Democrat Patty Wetterling and the I-P's John Binkowski.

WCCO-TV talks about Bachmann's church. In particular, a church plank that says the Pope is the antichrist.

The 8th
Dick Kekempthorne was in Minnesota to campaign for Republican Rod Grams.

Fox News covers the race.

But Forum Communications says Oberstar would be Transportation Chair if he's reelected and Democrats take control of the House.

Attorney General
The Pi Press takes a look at the race

Secretary of State

Forum Communications takes a look at the candidates and where they stand on the photo id law.

Lt. Gov.
The candidates debated on TPT's Almanac. The Star Tribune has a story. The Bemidji Pioneer also writes up Lt. Governor Molnau's visit.

The Legislature.

The Star Tribune wonders if Democrats can take control of the Minnesota House. They also have ten races to watch.

One of those races is House District 20B between DFL incumbent Lyle Koenen and Republican Scott VanBinsbergen. The West Central Tribune has profiles of Koenen and VanBinsbergen.

The St. Cloud Times also takes a look at the race in House District 13A between DFLer Bruce Schuck and GOP incumbent Bud Heidgerken.

The Brainerd Post Dispatch also takes a look at the race in Senate District 12.

It's also meet the candidates night in Melrose.

The Grand Forks Herald says the GOP is targeting DFL incumbent Bernie Lieder.

The Red Wing Republican Eagle says the Senate District 28 race is getting nasty.

WCCO-TV says the grocers are mounting a campaign to sell wine in grocery stores.

Odds and ends

The Star Tribune takes a look at the young policy wonks.

Fox 9 has a story asking if the DFL endorsed candidate in the Hennepin County Sheriffs race
actually lives in Hennepin County.

And finally, do you vote for the dead guy?

Obamaitis

Posted at 1:15 PM on October 30, 2006 by Bob Collins (1 Comments)

Kerri Miller was riding in a limo with Barack Obama -- the story goes -- when it pulled up to the bookstore in downtown Minneapolis. Kerri figured there was some ticket sale going on as there was a long line down the street. They were there to see Obama.

Kerri's interview with Obama will be on Midmorning tomorrow.

Here's Brandt Williams' story.

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Polls show the 1st and 6th within margin of error

Posted at 9:38 PM on October 30, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Majority Watch has some new polling out. In the 6th, Republican Michele Bachmann has a one point lead over DFLer Patty Wetterling. Bachmann is polling at 48%, Wetterling is polling at 47%. The margin of error is 3.01%.

In the 1st, Republican Congressman Gil Gutknecht is leading DFLer Tim Walz. Gutknecht is polling at 50%. Walz is polling at 47%. The margin of error is 3.03%.

Both polls were taken between October 24th through the 26th.

Poll has governor's race tight. Klobuchar leads Kennedy.

Posted at 9:59 PM on October 30, 2006 by Tom Scheck

The Wall Street Journal/Zogby poll has Democrat Mike Hatch leading Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty in the race for governor. Hatch is polling at 46.1%. Pawlenty is polling at 44.7%. The I-P’s Peter Hutchinson is polling at 6.3%. The poll, taken between October 23 and October 27th, has a margin of error of 3.6%.

Democrat Amy Klobuchar continues her lead over Republican Mark Kennedy. Klobuchar is polling at 50.8%. Kennedy is polling at 42.8%. The margin of error is 3.6%.

Hatch to launch investigation of RV industry

Posted at 10:04 PM on October 30, 2006 by Bob Collins

Or maybe not.

Laura McCallum sends along the picture of the Hatch campaign, temporarily derailed near St. Cloud.

Hatch has narrow lead in U of M poll

Posted at 10:06 PM on October 30, 2006 by Tom Scheck

The AP is reporting that Democrat Mike Hatch has a slight lead over Republican Tim Pawlenty in the race for governor in a poll conducted by the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School. Hatch is polling at 45%. Pawlenty is polling at 39%. Peter Hutchinson, with the Independence Party, has 9%. 7% of the 663 people polled were undecided. The margin of error is 3.8%.