Polinaut: June 20, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 6-20-08

Posted at 9:22 AM on June 20, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

John McCain is leaving Minnesota today after doing TV interviews with WCCO and KSTP. He raised money from big money GOP donors and held what he called a town hall in St. Paul on Thursday. The Pi Press, the Star Tribune, MPR, WCCO, KARE and Forum Communications have stories.

Protesters greet McCain.

ABC wonders whether McCain's brand is damaged.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

McCain tells AP that Gov. Pawlenty has a future in the GOP but wouldn't say who his top picks are.

CBS says McCain campaigns with "possible VP" Pawlenty.

2008 Race for Senate

Norm Coleman's campaign said the ad starring his wife is authentic.

Democrat Al Franken makes his case regarding the Iraq War with the help of a general.

Minnesota Monthly profiles Franken.

2008 Race for Congress

Minnesota's 3rd District is considered the 15th most competitive by The Fix.

Stu Rothenberg calls the 3rd a pure toss-up, the 6th Republican favored, and the 1st leans Democratic.

Stu Rothenberg praises 3rd District GOP candidate Erik Paulsen (subscription required).

1st District GOP candidate Brian Davis said he's running to be a public servant.

Congress

A federal probe finds tax abuse by health care professionals who were paid by Medicare. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is mentioned. The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and AP have stories.

Houston County gets federal agriculture aid. DFL Rep. Tim Walz is mentioned.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann says oil drilling and the environment can mix.

State Government

The metro area is a mortgage fraud hotbed.

Hundreds are rounded up in mortgage fraud arrests.

Minnesota's May unemployment climbs to 5.4%. That's the highest unemployment rate in 17 years. MPR, the Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.

The state sues a stinky dairy.

Attorney General Lori Swanson filed a criminal complaint against a nursing home.

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Pawlenty: No vetting

Posted at 12:27 PM on June 20, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Governor Tim Pawlenty said today that no one from John McCain's campaign is vetting him as a possible Vice-Presidential pick. Pawlenty said he did not talk about the possibility of being McCain's running mate during McCain's Thursday visit to the Twin Cities. He said the two talked privately about everything from sports, to politics and public policy to their family lives. McCain held a closed door fundraiser in Minneapolis and what he dubbed a town hall meeting in St. Paul while he was here. Pawlenty co-chairs McCain's campaign for president and is widely mentioned as a possible running mate. But he downplayed the VP talk.

"Nobody has asked me for any information or to submit any information and I haven't talked to Senator McCain about it nor anyone in his campaign about it."

When asked if there was a possibility that he was being vetted without knowing it, Pawlenty said "I wouldn't know that."

McCain said on Thursday that Pawlenty is a future leader of the Republican party but would not comment on whom he's considering as a possible running mate.

I-P: Waiting for The Body?

Posted at 12:30 PM on June 20, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The Independence Party is holding its endorsing convention on Saturday in Bloomington. Delegates will consider endorsements for the U.S. Senate, the 6th Congressional District and for president. I-P Chair Craig Swaggert says three people are seeking the Independence Party endorsement for U.S. Senate. They are Bill McGaughey, Kurt Anderson and Stephen Williams. But Swaggert said it's possible that the delegates will vote for no endorsement as they wait to see whether former Governor Jesse Ventura enters the race.

"There's certainly a push to nominate a delegate and endorse one but with Governor Ventura's possible run for the Senate, it does effect how it will be looked at at the convention."

Ventura has said he won't make a decision until July. He would square off against GOP incumbent Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken if he decides to run.

Convention delegates are also thinking about endorsing DFLer Elwyn Tinklenberg in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District. He's running against GOP incumbent Michele Bachmann. Swaggert also said the delegates will also consider cross-endorsements for president including Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.