Capitol View: June 12, 2008 Archive

Survey USA poll: Voters split on Coleman

Posted at 10:26 AM on June 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Survey USA is out with a new poll that has GOP Sen. Norm Coleman's approval rating at 48%. 46% of those polled don't approve the job he's doing. 6% say they're not sure. Coleman is running for reelection this year against Democrat Al Franken.

62% of those polled approve of the job DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is doing. Klobuchar is not on the ballot this November. President Bush also isn't on the ballot which may be a relief to some Republicans in the state. The poll found that 32% approve of the job President Bush is doing.

Sabato: 3rd a Toss-up. 1st is competitive

Posted at 10:37 AM on June 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)

University of Virginia Political Science professor Larry Sabato is out with his latest House rankings. He says Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District is a Toss-up. That race features GOP endorsed Erik Paulsen, DFL endorsed Ashwin Madia and I-P endorsed David Dillon.

Sabato also says Minnesota's 1st District is Likely Democratic. DFL Rep. Tim Walz is running for reelection in the 1st. He will face either GOP endorsed Brian Davis or Republican Dick Day (who is challenging Davis in the September primary).

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Winona bridge to reopen on Saturday

Posted at 1:08 PM on June 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

AP has the story:

WINONA, Minn. (AP) - A Mississippi River bridge that was closed abruptly because of rust and corrosion will re-open by Saturday, state transportation officials said.

The closure severed the only link between Minnesota and Wisconsin for miles up and down the river, leading to drastically longer driving times for commuters and worrying business owners.

The bridge won't be replaced any sooner than scheduled. Instead, repair work on 32 gusset plates will begin by mid-summer, with the work to be finished by late summer or early fall.

Tom Sorel, Minnesota's transportation commissioner, said the state believes it's safe to re-open the bridge to auto traffic.

"We felt it was necessary to open the Highway 43 bridge to some level of service as soon as possible to reduce some of the inconvenience to Minnesota and Wisconsin commuters," Sorel said in a statement.

For now, the bridge will be re-opened to cars, pickups, vans, SUVs and emergency vehicles. MnDOT said it plans to repair the most critical gusset plates first so that truck traffic can be allowed back on the bridge as soon as possible.

The bridge won't be re-opened to bicyclists or pedestrians.

After the bridge was closed, daily service by two ferries was arranged to help people cross the river instead of driving well over an hour on alternate routes. A smaller, 20-passenger ferry will operate through June 20 to serve pedestrians and bicyclists, MnDOT said.

The bridge at Winona was the third Minnesota span to be closed after inspectors found problems in gusset plates, which help connect the steel beams of a bridge's structure. Gusset plates that were too thin have been called a critical factor in last year's Minneapolis bridge collapse that killed 13 people.

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TV networks start releasing convention plans

Posted at 3:20 PM on June 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The New York Times has a story on what the TV networks will do for this year's DNC and RNC conventions.

Paul pulls plug

Posted at 3:33 PM on June 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Republican Ron Paul is reportedly dropping his bid for president. He will now focus his efforts on electing like minded candidates. Here's the AP story:

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A spokesman for Ron Paul says the Republican presidential candidate is ending his campaign.

Spokesman Jesse Benton says Paul will make the announcement Thursday night during a speech in Austin, Texas. Paul also will announce that he is beginning a new effort to elect libertarian-leaning Republicans like himself to public office nationwide.

Benton says the announcement was not a disappointment, but rather is exciting.

Paul's announcement will be a formality. The Texas congressman won few delegates during the Republican primaries, but he raised millions of dollars online and developed a large, grass-roots following among those backed his call for ending the war in Iraq and smaller government at home.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-06-12-08 1632EDT

No word on whether Paul still intends to hold the event at Williams Arena on September 2nd but this campaign press release mentioned the rally:

HOUSTON, TX - Presidential candidate Ron Paul will make a major announcement tonight during a rally coinciding with the Texas GOP State Convention. The event will be held from 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm at the Hilton America Hotel in downtown Houston, right across from the George R. Brown Convention Center.

There has been wide speculation about the future of the limited government movement that has been inspired by Dr. Paul's presidential bid. This event comes on the heels of revelations this week that Dr. Paul will hold a rally to celebrate liberty and Republican traditions in Minnesota during the GOP convention this September.

-30-

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Is Pawlenty the Evangelical Trifecta?

Posted at 5:08 PM on June 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)

David Brody, Senior Correspondent with the Christian Broadcasting Network, thinks so. Brody wrote this in his piece:

Yes, yes. Mike Huckabee. I know many evangelicals love him. But could Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty fit the bill for evangelicals too? Think about it. Minnesota is a purple state, he's popular articulate, young and handsome and an Evangelical to boot. Stop the presses! That's called the Evangelical trifecta.

Brody also cites other sources like a recent Minnesota Independent piece and the Baptist Press.

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