Capitol View

Capitol View: June 19, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 6-19-08

Posted at 7:59 AM on June 19, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest


John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee for president, will appear at a Minneapolis fundraiser and a town hall meeting in St. Paul today. AP and Fox 9 have stories.

The Pi Press says you either have to pay up or win the "undecided lottery" to see McCain firsthand. MPR will broadcast McCain's town hall live tonight at 7pm.

MPR takes a look at how McCain can ask for $50k even though individuals can only give $2300.

Barack Obama's campaign apologizes for blocking Muslims at an event.

America votes is organizing in Minnesota.

2008 Race for Senate

Larry Sabato says the race "Leans Republican."

The Independent profiles Al Franken.

The Star Tribune picks up on the latest go around between the MNGOP and Franken.

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman appeals to local conservatives in Hutchinson.

Former Sen. Dean Barkley says he won't run for the Senate.

WCCO Reality Checks the ads.

2008 Race for Congress

The Rochester Post-Bulletin says DFL Rep. Tim Walz is still carrying credit card debt from his campaign.

The St. Cloud Times has a story on campaigns using the internet to get their message out. The story focuses on the 6th Congressional District contest between GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann and DFL backed Elwyn Tinklenberg.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

Tim Pawlenty says he doesn't expect to be asked to be VP. The Star Tribune and KSTP have stories.

The Fix makes another "Case for Tim Pawlenty."

The writer who profiled Pawlenty for The New Republic provides a "slam dunk case for Pawlenty for VP." Don't get too excited since he also wrote about Joe Lieberman.

Klobuchar for VP Watch

It had to be done since The Wall Street Journal is mentioning her.

Klobuchar spoke on Obama's behalf at an energy efficiency forum.

State Government

The Winona Daily News says inspectors found rusty gusset plates on the Winona bridge.

Sun Country Airlines wants state assistance.

Bob McFarlin, who led MnDOT after Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau was dismissed by the Senate, is leaving the agency.

Residents voice concerns over the Central Corridor plan.

Congress

Congress overrides President Bush's veto of the Farm Bill (again).

The St. Cloud Times says Michele Bachmann's family is benefiting from farm subsidies. Bachmann voted against the Farm Bill.

Lawmakers continue to push President Bush to declare the flooded counties in southern Minnesota a disaster area.

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman wants digital converter box coupons to be reissued.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar wants President Bush to hold oil producing nations accountable for high oil prices.

GOP Rep. John Kline is praised for his support of low-income, first-generation, and disabled students.

Airline passengers sue to stop the NWA/Delta merger.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar rips a Bush Administration plan to auction off flight slots in NYC.

Oberstar also assessed transportation needs in Illinois.

2008 RNC

A new report finds that big convention donors are also big campaign donors.

The traffic plan for the convention is still a work in progress. Downtown businesses and dwellers are preparing for it.

2010 Race for Governor

DFL Rep. Tom Rukavina says he's still mulling a run for governor.

Finally

A poll finds that Minnesotans' have an increasing cynicism about government.

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Obama opts out of public campaign finance system.

Posted at 9:57 AM on June 19, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

He released the statement via a video message. He had previously said he would take public funds.

Update: The Washington Post says Republican John McCain is raising his money the hard way and will have to take public financing. The report says McCain has attended more than 90 fundraisers since March 5th.

Meanwhile, CQ sorts through the congressional ratings to see whether Obama really is the "most liberal senator."

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U.S. News: McCain camp is focusing on Pawlenty

Posted at 1:00 PM on June 19, 2008 by Tom Scheck

A reporter with U.S. News and World Report says the McCain campaign is now focusing on Tim Pawlenty as a possible running mate to the Arizona Senator:

Internal McCain polls show that adding Pawlenty, 47, to the ticket would help McCain win not only Minnesota but also the neighboring state of Wisconsin. Both are close swing states. In 2004, John Kerry beat President Bush by 3.48 percentage points in Minnesota and 0.38 percentage point in Wisconsin. In 2000, Al Gore beat Bush by 2.4 points in Minnesota and 0.22 in Wisconsin.

This all validates my theory that Team McCain is pursuing a "Big 10" victory strategy, trying to win the states from the college football conference, especially Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This path could result in McCain losing the popular vote but winning the electoral vote.

The news comes at a time when Pawlenty is telling the local press that he "doesn't expect to be asked" to be McCain's running mate.

McCain is in the Twin Cities today for an afternoon fundraiser in Minneapolis and a town hall meeting that is closed to the public. The campaign selected undecided voters through a polling firm to attend the St. Paul town hall.

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The feature examines statements made by Minnesota politicians and checks them for accuracy. Based on data analysis, document reviews and interviews with non-partisan analysts, statements are rated true, misleading, false or inconclusive. More

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