Capitol View: January 22, 2008 Archive

Watch the Checking!

Posted at 11:36 AM on January 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Governor Pawlenty and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman will be hitting the ice today to promote the new outdoor refrigerated skating rinks in St. Paul. The two have been at odds in the past over LGA increases. I wonder if the mock scrimmage could get rough and tumble.

Fred Thompson drops out

Posted at 1:29 PM on January 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck

AP has the story:

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) - Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson quit the Republican presidential race on Tuesday, after a string of poor finishes in early primary and caucus states. "Today, I have withdrawn my candidacy for president of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort," Thompson said in a statement. Thompson's fate was sealed last Saturday in the South Carolina primary, when he finished third in a state that he had said he needed to win. In the statement, Thompson did not say whether he would endorse any of his former rivals. He was one of a handful of members of Congress who supported Arizona Sen. John McCain in 2000 in his unsuccessful race against George W. Bush for the party nomination.

The air may be coming out of the Huckabee balloon...

Posted at 2:08 PM on January 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck

AP says former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is cutting back on spending, a signal he may be running out of money.

Pawlenty hits the airwaves on global warming

Posted at 2:55 PM on January 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (a Democrat) are appearing in a radio ad urging Congress to take action on climate change. Environmental Defense is running the ad in the districts of those who sit on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Dan Cronin, a spokesman for Environmental Defense, says they want the House and Senate to pass the Warner/Lieberman Climate Change Bill this year.

Cronin says they chose Pawlenty and Napolitano because they are well regarded in both parties and have taken state action to address climate change. Several western governors also appeared on TV advocating action on climate change. You can listen to the Pawlenty/Napolitano ad here.

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Cold day for the MCCL?

Posted at 3:32 PM on January 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The MCCL had its annual march and rally this afternoon to mark the 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing the abortion. Several thousand attended the event but MCCL President Leo LaLonde announced during the ceremony that they would cut the event short because of the frigid temperatures.

Governor Pawlenty, who was scheduled to appear, didn't make it because of a scheduling conflict (they did play a recorded speech from Pawlenty). A spokesman for Pawlenty said the governor had an event in Chaska and couldn't make it back in time. It's the first time Pawlenty missed the event during his time as governor.

Finally, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson dropped his bid for the White House earlier today. MCCL was backing Thompson.

Coleman goes after Franken in web ad (again)

Posted at 3:58 PM on January 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)

Norm Coleman's senate campaign released another web video attacking DFL senate hopeful Al Franken. The ad is similar to a previous ad, using Franken's own words to show that he's unfit for office. Here's the Coleman camp's reasoning behind the ad:

With Al Franken running TV ads that gloss over the less-than-flattering parts of his career, the Coleman for Senate campaign today released a new webvideo to show the voters of Minnesota what Franken doesn't want them to see. "Things You Won't See In An Al Franken Ad" features Franken's extensive history of tasteless comedy and divisive partisan rhetoric.

"Despite Franken's latest attempts to repackage himself as a kinder, gentler candidate, Al Franken can't hide who he really is," said campaign manager Cullen Sheehan. "No matter how much of his Hollywood money he spends on TV ads, Al Franken won't be able to sweep his record of over-the-top partisan attacks and offensive remarks under the rug,"

Franken's campaign didn't respond to the Coleman ad but officials with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee did with this statement:

Norm Coleman launched his 2008 campaign today with a bitter negative ad attacking DFL primary candidate Al Franken. Both Franken and Mike Ciresi released ads in the past two weeks promoting their vision for the future, and Coleman's negative reaction video shows that instead of offering his ideas, he plans to wage the type of slash and burn campaign that has been rejected by Minnesotans in the past.

"It is a sign of desperation that when both Democratic candidates for Senate are on the air with positive commercials about their visions for the future, Norm Coleman has decided to launch the first negative attack ad of 2008," DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said. "Norm Coleman doesn't have a plan to lower health care costs, change direction in Iraq, or address Minnesotans' economic concerns, so instead he's launching bitter attacks five months before a Democratic nominee has even been chosen. It's sad that after five years in the Senate, the only thing Norm Coleman has to offer the voters of Minnesota are harsh personal attacks against Democrats instead of his own vision for the future."

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Is there anyone out there who thinks this race won't be intense? Franken and fellow DFLer Mike Ciresi both have ads running on local tv. Watch the Franken ads here. Watch the Ciresi ads here.

When will Coleman hit the real airwaves and will those ads be as hard hitting as his web videos?

Discuss...

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Walz raised more than the entire GOP field in the 1st

Posted at 4:35 PM on January 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)

The Rochester Post Bulletin and A Blue Stem Prairie (which supports DFL Rep. Tim Walz) have been closely watching the fundraising race in Minnesota's 1st District.

I was reminded to check the FEC site today after the campaign for DFL Rep. Tim Walz issued a news release saying Walz has $750k in the bank. That's more than the four GOP candidates combined.

Remember, money ain't votes. If it were, Gil Gutknecht would still be representing the 1st.

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