Polinaut: July 23, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 7-23-08

Posted at 8:37 AM on July 23, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Governor Pawlenty's very public yet silent VP hokey pokey continues.

He is now refusing to address VP speculation that he's being vetted which basically means he's being vetted.

CNN speculates that John McCain may be inching towards picking Pawlenty since McCain dropped a compliment about him in New Hampshire.

The governor travels to Michigan tonight.

2008 Race for President

Democrat Barack Obama will be back in the Twin Cities in August for a private fundraiser.

The New York Times says analysts are wondering whether Obama can deliver on his health care promises.

While Obama is away, John McCain sharpens his political attack.

2008 Race for Senate

The Hill says GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is voting more with the Democrats.

MPR has a profile of Democrat Priscilla Lord Faris.

WCCO asks "How funny will the senate race get?"

The Nation writes about the race.

One GOP Senator wants to raise the level of anger over the union bill. Coleman is mentioned.

2008 Race for Congress

Politico reports that 1st District Republican Brian Davis was forced to pay tax liens on his Rochester home.

Bachmann calls for more drilling, especially in ANWR. Environmentalists say she's playing fast and loose with the facts. The Star Tribune, MPR, the St. Cloud Times, AP and the Pi Press have stories.

The ANWR debate could mean that there are two platforms coming out of the RNC - one for the party and one for John McCain.

Congress

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson says he's marking up his own bill aimed at oil speculation.

A House bill could overhaul FAA inspections. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

Oberstar tells Reuters that infrastructure could be in a new stimulus package.

The Delta Queen could dock for the last time. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

Congress may have to sweat to the oldies with Richard Simmons.

State Government

The Minnesota DNR is shooting for safer venison.

Anoka County officials are complaining about state requirements that make it more difficult for them to balance their budget.

The state is asking for public comment on the contaminated 3M dump.

WCCO says Minneapolis might join the pack of burning trans fats.

2008 RNC

MPR says convention business won't be as usual.

The RNC draws support from law enforcement across the state. Meanwhile, another war protest is scheduled.

Former GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul is moving his alternative rally to the Target Center. Paul's folks say Willie Nelson ain't coming. Does that mean that "The Party's Over?" MPR, AP, MinnPost and the Star Tribune have stories.

Bloomington will allow later bar closings during the RNC.

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Coleman hits back.

Posted at 9:05 AM on July 23, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Coleman releases a new ad which basically means:

Playboy vs.

Bushboy continues...

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A Minnesota Senate YouTube debate.

Posted at 12:51 PM on July 23, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

YouTube is calling for video questions for GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken. Check it here. The deadline for videos is July 28th.

YouTube says the top five videos (based on rankings and view counts) will be posed to both Coleman and Franken and their video answers will be presented side-by-side on You Choose '08 Spotlight on August 7, 2008.

Here's some more info:

YouTube, as a part of our You Choose '08 program, has been empowering, educating, and connecting voters and candidates through the power of online video. Today we're debuting a Minnesota-centric program called the You Choose '08 Spotlight to highlight the U.S. Senatorial race between Senator Norm Coleman and Al Franken.

Coleman and Franken have agreed to answer video questions from YouTube users, which will be submitted as responses to this call-out video.

The top five videos (based on rankings and view counts) will be posed to both Coleman and Franken and their video answers will be presented side-by-side on You Choose '08 Spotlight on August 7, 2008.

Both Coleman and Franken have active YouTube channels (http://youtube.com/colemanforsenate) and (http://youtube.com/frankenforsenate) and the You Choose '08 platform offers people a place to learn about the two candidates and compare them on the issues that matter most in this election.

There is a tremendous amount of activity in this election around Senatorial races and we're interested in speaking with you about what we've seen, both in the Minnesota race and beyond. Steve Grove, YouTube's head of news and politics, is available for interviews. Please let me know if you're interested and I'll set something up.

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Vin Weber: Romney, Pawlenty and Jindal

Posted at 1:34 PM on July 23, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Former GOP Congressman and now political consultant Vin Weber just said on NPR's Talk of the Nation that the three names he keeps hearing come up as potential running mates for John McCain are Gov. Pawlenty, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

"Those are the three names that come up again and again and again," Weber said.

Weber said, however, that nobody really knows who McCain will pick "except for John McCain."

NPR's political editor Ken Rudin added that he now thinks McCain will pick Pawlenty because McCain is comfortable with Pawlenty.

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Start spreading the news

Posted at 3:51 PM on July 23, 2008 by Tim Pugmire

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will talk politics and public policy this Friday during two scheduled appearances in the Twin Cities.

Bloomberg begins the day at the Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis where he'll speak at an invitation-only fundraising breakfast for the Independence Party of Minnesota. The former Republican briefly considered running for president this year as an independent.

Bloomberg is scheduled to appear at the Saint Paul Hotel Friday afternoon for a news conference and announcement on public infrastructure. He'll be joined by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to participate via satellite. The mayor and two governors launched an effort earlier this year called Building America's Future. The coalition is aimed at making infrastructure funding a national priority.

Pawlenty on VP talk

Posted at 5:40 PM on July 23, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Gov. Pawlenty sat down with Michigan Radio's Kaomi Goetz during his time in Michigan. Kaomi sent along her interview which you can listen to here.

Pawlenty denied to address the rising speculation that he could be John McCain's running mate:

"I've stopped engaging in all of the back and forth regarding the vice-presidential questions. Each day I get asked about it for many weeks and months and just every word I change in any answer somebody thinks is significant and it just fuels more speculation so I just stopped engaging in it because I think it just fuels more speculation."

He added that the VP choice "is just going to have to be decided by Senator McCain."

Pawlenty is in Michigan to address the Kent County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner.

Pawlenty will also be speaking to the National Press Club in a few weeks.

McCain: No decision made on VP

Posted at 11:12 PM on July 23, 2008 by Tom Scheck

He made the comments on Fox.