Polinaut: February 7, 2008 Archive

AP: Romney to suspend campaign

Posted at 11:31 AM on February 7, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Here's the story:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Mitt Romney will suspend his presidential campaign for the Republican nomination, The Associated Press has learned, effectively ceding the nomination to John McCain. "If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or (Barack) Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign, be a part of aiding a surrender to terror," Romney planned to say in a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference. "This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and our supporters ... many of you right here in this room ... have given a great deal to get me where I have a shot at becoming president. If this were only about me, I would go on. But I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country." (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) AP-NY-02-07-08 1230EST

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The Daily Digest: 2-7-08

Posted at 12:03 PM on February 7, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Sorry the digest is late. Computer problems plagued me.

One day after Super Tuesday, the focus is now on the bread and butter issues. Concerns over job losses and problems in the mortgage industry are prompting fears of a recession. That means Minnesota's budget deficit could get bigger. Reorganization at Macy's doesn't help the situation in Minnesota.

Governor Pawlenty is headed to Washington DC today and will be in Germany this weekend.

The governor announced that they will raise the ceiling on lost wages benefits for bridge victims.

Lawmakers tour the border to consider the impact of a new law.

The Minnesota Department of Health The Minnesota Council of Helath Plans says depression is the state's top mental health issue.

Congress

The Senate blocks the economic stimulus bill. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar voted to back the package.

The MNDaily says Coleman does not back a plan that would limit interrogations.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar wants to change Super Tuesday.

GOP Rep. John Kline is briefed on issues involving Afghanistan. He'd like to see greater investment from NATO allies.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned in this Politico story on trade issues related to sugar.

There are also rumors that a Delta/NWA merger is on the horizon.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar says he'll fight the merger.

2008 Race for President

Mitt Romney has suspended his campaign for president effectively giving John McCain the GOP nomination.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz backs Barack Obama for president.

Candidates are doing the math on the delegate numbers.

Tuesday's crowded chaos at the caucuses are prompting several lawmakers to call for a primary. MPR and the Star Tribune have stories.

Pawlenty for VP talk

U.S. News and World Report has Pawlenty on a John McCain shortlist.

KSTP asks "Where in the world is Pawlenty?"

WCCO says it's possible that Minnesota could see a Gov. Molnau.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

DFLer Darryl Stanton says he's running again.

2008 Race for Congress

Democrat Steve Sarvi made his run for Congress official. He's running against GOP Rep. John Kline in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District.

The Hill says the NRCC Chair says a federal investigation by will not harm fundraising. Kline is mentioned.

Conservatives told not to boo McCain at CPAC.

Posted at 1:27 PM on February 7, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Mitt Romney made his concession/suspension speech at CPAC. John McCain will be speaking at the event later today. Politico is reporting that CPAC organizers are telling attendees to not boo McCain. This is not a good way for any GOP nominee to start his push to win the general election. As you already know, some conservatives are not happy with McCain's candidacy.

Norm: Conservatives will be with McCain in November

Posted at 2:47 PM on February 7, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman says conservative critics of John McCain will be there for him in November's general election but he says McCain has some work to do. In his weekly conference call, Coleman said McCain will have to tout his conservative credentials to earn that conservative support.

"I think he does have to go before conservative groups and give Ronald Reagan's admonition that he's not going to be with you 100% of the time. On the core issues of national security, on fiscal responsibility, on respect for life and freedom, John has been there. He has a strong case to be made and he simply has to make the case.."

Coleman also said he thinks conservatives, independents and conservative Democrats will be supporting both he and McCain in November.

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Maybe McCain needs to say this...

Posted at 5:58 PM on February 7, 2008 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)

...in order to appease conservatives:

"Now I know I may not be in some of your wildest dreams but I can tell you what your worst nightmare is. It's one of the big spendin', tax raisin', abortion promotin', gay marriage embracin', more-welfare-without-accountability lovin', school-reform resistin', illegal-immigration supportin' Democrats for governor who thinks Hillary Clinton should be president of the United States."

Points to the first who can name the speaker and extra points to those who can say where it was said.

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Which would be more historic?

Posted at 6:12 PM on February 7, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The first African American elected POTUS or the first woman elected POTUS?

A DFL activist told me the other day that he and his wife got in an argument over which would be groundbreaking - electing a black president or a female president in 2008. On the one hand, African Americans got the right to vote a lot earlier than women. But African Americans were disenfranchised from voting in the South until the 1960s. A woman was appointed to a Cabient position a lot earlier than an African American.

Here are some facts to consider:

Joseph Rainey was the first African American seated in Congress in 1870. John Willis Menard was elected in 1868 but was denied the seat.

Jeanette Rankin was the first woman elected to Congress in 1916.

Frances Perkins was the first female Cabinet member appointed in 1933 by FDR.

Robert Weaver was the first African American Cabinet member appointed by LBJ in 1966.

So which would be more historic? Share your thoughts.

Of course, there are plenty of Republicans who would like to see the first Arizona citizen elected president.

Love is a fickle thing

Posted at 6:26 PM on February 7, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The New York Times is reporting Obama girl didn't vote.