Polinaut: July 18, 2008 Archive

Pawlenty ducks vetting question

Posted at 9:04 AM on July 18, 2008 by Tom Scheck

After weeks of saying John McCain's campaign has not asked for any information, Gov. Pawlenty ducked the VP vetting question on MSNBC this morning. We'll upload video when it's available.

UPDATE:

A Zogby poll of potential VP candidates does not give Pawlenty high marks.

The Daily Digest: 7-18-08

Posted at 9:07 AM on July 18, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Tim Pawlenty leads the Digest. After weeks of saying he wasn't being vetted, he refused to say on MSNBC whether he was being vetted for the VP slot. Video isn't up yet.

One of the Digest's hometown papers picks up that British bookmakers give Pawlenty 6 to 1 odds (behind Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin).

Pawlenty also tells the National Journal that he hoped more people paid attention to the NGA meetings.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

WCCO says GOP Sen. Norm Coleman backed the union backed card check proposal during his time as St. Paul mayor.

The Fix drops Minnesota's Senate race in its rankings.

The Fix says Democrat Al Franken will get some campaign help.

I-P candidate Jack Uldrich releases a web ad. MPR, the Pi Press and MinnPost have stories.

2008 Race for Congress

DFL Rep. Tim Walz will campaign in St. Charles on Saturday.

The Mankato Free Press takes a look at the race.

CQ says Democrats have a huge cash advantage in open seat contests. Minnesota's 3rd is mentioned.

2008 Race for President

Barack Obama's campaign opened its campaign headquarters in St. Paul.

State Government

MPR has a story saying a plan to make the Twin Cities a center for the emerging bio-science industry is faltering.

Higher pay is being considered for the state's pension fund chief.

The state cuts juror pay in half.

A lawsuit continues against the 35W bridge bid. AP and the Star Tribune have stories.

Minnesota employers add 3,400 jobs in June. The Pi Press says the jobless rate dipped because of dropouts.

26 southern Minnesota cities apply for federal aid.

There will be job cuts at St. Peter's security hospital.

A Vikings stadium plan would use parts of the Metrodome.

Congress

A bill to fund childhood cancer is on its way to the White House. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is mentioned.

A report finds that banks help investors hide trillions. Coleman is mentioned.

Forum Communications says DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is fitting into Washington.

Congress is also moving closer to a consumer safety bill. Klobuchar is mentioned.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison was frustrated with the time limit on questioning during a hearing featuring John Ashcroft.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann said Democrats need to take the next step on energy. She leaves this weekend for a trip to ANWR.

Bachmann also introduced legislation that would track sex offenders.

A gas tax holiday could mean a loss of state jobs. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

The Economist picks up on the Delta Queen dispute. Oberstar is mentioned.

Former Presidential candidate George McGovern is campaigning against hunger.

Former GOP Sen. Rod Grams is unhappy with the GOP.

2008 RNC

GM will push green cars at the conventions.

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McCollum not ready to pick sides in Senate race

Posted at 11:55 AM on July 18, 2008 by Tom Scheck

DFL Rep. Betty McCollum said she isn't ready to back DFL endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken. AP has the story below. A McCollum staffer confirmed it.

Here's the story:

ST. PAUL (AP) - The leading Democrat to criticize Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken over racy material from his past career in satire isn't picking sides now that Franken faces a primary challenger.

U.S. Representative Betty McCollum says she is waiting to ask Franken how he plans to put the issue behind him and unseat Republican Norm Coleman.

McCollum says Franken had to reschedule a meeting planned for earlier this week.

She says she won't say much more until they talk face-to-face.

McCollum says she doesn't know much about Priscilla Lord Faris, the St. Paul attorney who emerged this week as Franken's Democratic primary opponent.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-07-18-08 1239EDT