Capitol View: October 31, 2006 Archive

The right-wing New York Times

Posted at 9:17 AM on October 31, 2006 by Bob Collins

It totally blows me away that people have time on their hands to do stuff like this. I wish I knew their secret.

(h/t Ben Tesch)

Candidate statements

Posted at 9:48 AM on October 31, 2006 by Bob Collins (2 Comments)

The radio folks are airing statements from the Senate and gubernatorial candidates this week. The Campaign 2006 Web site has pages dedicated to most of these candidates to provide some more robust information. But here to whet your appetite are the actual statements being broadcast. All are in the beautiful RealPlayer format.

SENATE CANDIDATES
Michael Cavalan

Robert Fitzgerald

Amy Klobuchar

Mark Kennedy

Ben Powers

GOVERNOR CANDIDATES

Leslie Davis

Mike Hatch

Peter Hutchinson

Tim Pawlenty

Ken Pentel

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The Daily Digest: 10-31-06

Posted at 12:33 PM on October 31, 2006 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Happy Halloween. It's triage time here at the digest so don't get upset if I don't put up a story or column that you think should be up here. We're a week out and it's busy. So first things first.

Governor's Race

A U of M poll shows Democrat Mike Hatch leading GOP Governor Tim Pawlenty and I-P candidate Peter Hutchinson. Here's the poll. Here's a story.

Pawlenty outspent and outraised Hatch according to the latest campaign finance reports. Story.

There are several stories on the final campaign push. The AP, the Star Tribune and the Winona Daily News have stories.

Pawlenty visits Goldleaf. Hatch talked college tuition in St. Cloud and stopped in Willmar.

The Wall Street Journal mentions Pawlenty's hopes to have voters present identification at the polls. DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez bashes the idea.

Don Davis, with Forum Communications, says the campaigns are focusing on Minnesota's "L."

Senate Race

Barack Obama leads this entry. MPR, KTTC, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press, KSTP, AP and the Rochester Post Bulletin have stories.

MSNBC says times have changed from four years ago.

The Mankato Free Press endorses Democrat Amy Klobuchar.

MSNBC also says bloggers are being added to campaign payrolls. Mentions MDE's Brodkorb being employed by Kennedy.

The Washington Post has a story on the most powerful lawmakers and Senator Dayton is near the bottom. You can check out the list here.

1st

The Cook Political Report moves the 1st to "toss-up"

The RNCC is investing some money on behalf of Gutknecht.

You can listen to a recent debate between DFLer Tim Walz and GOP incumbent Gil Gutknecht here.

5th

The Pi Press says the I-P's Tammy Lee is gaining ground on DFLer Keith Ellison.

6th

WCCO-TV reality check's the DCCC ad on Bachmann.

The Star Tribune takes a look at the antichrist buzz around Bachmann's church.

7th

MPR has a look at the 7th District

Legislature

The Pi Press has a profile of GOP candidate Emory Dively, who's running against DFL incumbent Michael Paymar.

The St. Cloud Times says social issues divide the Senate District 13 contest.

The St. Cloud Times also writes about House District 12b.

MPR has an interesting story on House District 2b and the Red Lake Indian tribe.

Here are profiles of the candidates in 13a. GOP incumbent Bud Heidgerken. DFL challenger Bruce Shuck.

The Marshall Independent covers the final debate in Marshall.

Finally, WCCO-TV does a story on donkeys and elephants.

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What I really meant to say.. Part XXII

Posted at 12:49 PM on October 31, 2006 by Bob Collins (10 Comments)

Wouldn't you think by now, John Kerry would hire someone who could write him a speech that wouldn't force him to start every subsequent speech with "what I really meant to say..."?

I'm going to give the guy the benefit of the doubt -- and only because nobody can be that stupid to call the soldier in Iraq stupid. But this is what happens when politicians try to play to the news media, looking for the pithy, 7-second quote that will lead the nightly news instead of just trying to be literate.

Nice timing. Kerry will be in Minnesota campaigning for the Dems tomorrow.

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A new special interest group goes negative on Hatch

Posted at 1:21 PM on October 31, 2006 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)

A group known as "A Strong America-Minnesota" started running this ad last night. The group is based in Alexandria, VA. The group's latest Campaign Finance report shows that Stanley Hubbard, the owner of KSTP-TV and Hubbard Broadcasting, Target Corporation Chairman and CEO Robert Ulrich and the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association Committee of Automobile Retailers (not MADA) gave to the PAC so far.

Hubbard and Ulrich have given to Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty's campaign. This is the first outside interest group to run ads that benefit Pawlenty and hammer Hatch. The Alliance for a Better Minnesota and Minnesotans for Change were created to bash Pawlenty and help Hatch. The latest campaign finance report showed that Minnesotans for Change turned over $800,000 to the DFL Party.

Update: The Alliance for a Better Minnesota has a new ad (if it's not new, it's the first time I've seen it). You can watch it here.

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