Polinaut: February 8, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 2-8-08

Posted at 9:54 AM on February 8, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Auf Wiedersehen Tim Pawlenty. The governor is headed to a security conference in Germany this weekend.

The Legislative Auditor says the JOBZ program is unfocused and is lacking oversight. Read the report here.

State lawmakers stop in Duluth to tout their plans to fix health care.

The DFL controlled Senate may wait a few weeks before bouncing Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau as Transportation Commissioner.

Ramsey County backs off its LRT position regarding the Central Corridor.

Lawmakers want to ban a chemical used in baby bottles.

Attorney General Lori Swanson gets another insurer to settle an annuity suit.

A study says converting land into biofuel crops could worsen global warming.

Congress

Congress sends the economic stimulus package to President Bush. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is the only member of Minnesota's Congressional delegation to vote against it.

The House has passed legislation to have the federal government withhold Medicare payments to doctors who don't pay their taxes. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is the chief Senate backer.

Home Depot and other Big Box retailers want to delay a cargo security measure. Coleman is mentioned.

GOP leaders, including GOP Rep. John Kline, brief members on a scandal involving the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Northwest Airline's name is at risk in merger talks with Delta. Oberstar is mentioned as opposing the merger but there is little he or members of Congress could do. That doesn't mean they won't scrutinize any such deals.

A public interest group says the federal government is hiding data on Great Lakes health concerns.

2008 Race for President

Minnesotans react to Mitt Romney's decision to suspend his campaign.

A Washington Post contributor says the race for the Democratic nomination basically comes down to the superdelegates. Paging Amy Klobuchar! Has anyone seen Sen. Klobuchar and the endorsement card she's carrying?

Pawlenty for VP talk

The Star Tribune says McCain's likely nomination heightens talk about Pawlenty's VP chances.

The Pi Press and the Star Tribune handicap Pawlenty's positives and negatives.

KARE also has a story on the Pawlenty VP talk.

mnpACT picks up that Tim Russert suggested that Pawlenty could be considered a 2012 presidential contender if McCain doesn't win.

2008 Race for the U.S. Senate

The Star Tribune says the DFL candidates are pleased with the caucuses but are unsure of the results.

The candidates also talk issues with KSTP.

2008 Race for Congress

Democrat Steve Sarvi officially announces his campaign for Congress in Minnesota's 2nd. MPR, the Pi Press and the KARE have stories.

The GOP candidates for Congress in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District square off at a forum in Winona. The La Crosse Tribune and the Winona Daily News have stories.

2008 RNC

Anti-war activists will be in the Twin Cities this weekend to plan protests.

Finally

Syracuse splits it evenly for Obama and Clinton. One of them should have handled a lacrosse stick or ate dinner at Dinosaur BBQ or ate hot wings at Varsity Pizza or at least said that the 1987 NCAA Championship game against Indiana was a heart breaker that took them years to get over. I'm not sayin' but I'm just sayin' (this message brought to you by a proud Syracuse University grad who can't understand why the basketball team only has seven quality players right now). Have a nice weekend.

McCain on a possible running mate

Posted at 10:57 AM on February 8, 2008 by Mike Mulcahy

After all the speculation in the Minnesota media about a possible Tim Pawlenty nod, McCain had a few things to say today about a possible Mike Huckabee choice.

From the AP:

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - On his first full day as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, John McCain fended off discussion of specific potential running mates but made clear he sees no requirement to pick someone from a different region.

"I don't want to in any way sidestep the candidacy of Governor Huckabee," McCain said told reporters here before flying off to Wichita, Kan., and Seattle. "He's in this race, and for me to
dismiss him would be inappropriate and unrealistic."

Nevertheless, the Arizona senator did offer his view that regionally balanced tickets may be a thing of the past. Since McCain's chief rival Mitt Romney suspended his campaign Thursday,
some party figures and commentators have suggested McCain might select Mike Huckabee as a vice presidential nominee to benefit from the Arkansas governor's proven appeal in the South, where McCain has less support.

"From a practical standpoint, I think former President Clinton and Vice President Gore showed us you don't have to be regionally different," McCain said. "I think America is such that, quote,
regional differences don't play the role that maybe they did in earlier times." Clinton, who was Arkansas governor, and Sen. Al Gore of Tennessee made the first national ticket entirely from the South.

"The fundamental principle behind any selection of a running mate would be whether that person is fully prepared to take over and shares your values, your principles, your philosophy and your priorities," McCain said.

The Fix moves Franken up the line

Posted at 4:00 PM on February 8, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The Washington Post's The Fix has moved its ranking of Minnesota's U.S. Senate race from #6 to #5. Here are the details:

5. Minnesota: Many months ago, we wrote a piece about whether the candidacy of comedian/entertainer Al Franken is a nightmare or a dream for Senate Democrats. At the moment, it appears it is the latter. He continues to raise huge amounts of money -- nearly $2 million over the final three months of 2007 -- and draws rave reviews for the grassroots operation he is building. And, in a recent independent poll Franken had a solid edge over attorney, and 2000 Senate candidate, Mike Ciresi (D) and even carried a narrow margin over Sen. Norm Coleman (R). Coleman is one of the savviest incumbents in the Senate and won't go easily or quietly. But, Franken is off to a very strong start. (Previous ranking: 6)

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