Polinaut: July 30, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 7-30-08

Posted at 8:34 AM on July 30, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Have you had enough of the VP speculation? There are a few camps in the Pawlenty Veepstakes. One camp says John McCain has already picked Pawlenty but is waiting for Barack Obama to pick his VP first. Another camp says McCain isn't sure yet but Pawlenty is in the hunt. Another camp says it's not Pawlenty but McCain is trying to help the governor's national street cred by mentioning his name every so often. It's a thank you for Pawlenty's loyalty during a long campaign. Another camp says "I have no idea." Which camp are you in?

Gov. Pawlenty was pressed again on Tuesday about his chances of being VP. He was mum on VP talk but praised Mitt Romney (another possible VP choice), declined to say whether he was qualified to be president and said he thought Jay Leno's jokes about him were "funny." AP and the Star Tribune have stories.

Offshore betting has Pawlenty with the best odds.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says he'd pick Pawlenty.

Evangelicals warn against adding Romney to the ticket but the Denver Post says Romney can help McCain win the West.

ABC says McCain hasn't made up his mind.

Time says a McCain VP pick may not be on the media's radar.

Scratch South Dakota's John Thune from the list.

Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is reportedly being considered by Obama.

2008 Race for President

Republican John McCain says he won't raise taxes after he said "everything was on the table" when it came to social security.

Politico says Democrat Barack Obama has cash to target McCain's base.

The New York Times says McCain has grown increasingly negative which worries some Republicans.

The AFL-CIO issued a flyer to dispel myths about Obama. DFL Rep. Keith Ellison is mentioned in this story on the flyer.

McCain and Obama spent $50 million on TV ads.

2008 Race for Senate

Minnesota doesn't make Politico and Real Clear Politic's Top 10 list of most competitive Senate races.

The Ted Stevens scandal reverberates in Minnesota. In other words, Democrat Al Franken wants Coleman to return $31,000 in contributions from Stevens' campaign.

KSTP says Coleman and the MNGOP are targeting Franken's character.

Democrat Priscilla Lord Faris and I-P candidate Dean Barkley campaigned in Duluth.

Barkley also released a new website and is selling a lawn sign that call for Brett Favre to be Minnesota's quarterback.

2008 Race for Congress

CQ says 3rd District candidates Erik Paulsen (GOP) and Ashwin Madia (DFL) have oodles and oodles (that's a technical term) of cash on hand. Both are in the Top 10 for open seat candidates.

6th District DFLer Elwyn Tinklenberg embarks on a transportation tour today. Meanwhile, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner (who is also a Democrat running for Governor) writes an op-ed asking whether GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann really believes her $2 a gallon gas claim.

Congress

The Star Tribune says a federal agency may redefine abortion rules.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is one of several Democratic Senators calling for the EPA chief to resign.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann seeks a House vote on oil exploration.

The House will debate the oil speculator bill today. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

The Star Tribune says NTSB said a corroded gusset plate fractured.

Klobuchar and DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar have proposed legislation to improve the nation's bridges.

The head of the federal DOT says transportation funding needs fixing. She proposed a new funding plan.

Klobuchar and GOP Sen. Norm Coleman secure funding for an incinerator in Pope County.

A U.S. House committee will discuss the impact of the NWA/Delta merger.

State Government

Gov. Pawlenty proposes health care changes. MPR, AP, the Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.

A judge rules that Attorney General Lori Swanson can sue an insurer that sold annuities to the elderly.

The New Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court discusses the future of Minnesota's courts with MPR.

2008 RNC

Protesters say St. Paul is thwarting permit requests.

The Pi Press also says St. Paul police will have cameras for the event.

Finally

AP answers some basic questions about polling.

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Speed dating!

Posted at 8:54 AM on July 30, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The House Republican Caucus is inviting donors to meet some of their new candidates through the unique process of speed dating:

By reserving a table, you will have the opportunity to visit with several of our candidates. Our candidates will rotate around the room and spend 7 minutes at each table, giving you the opportunity to get to know them!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Kelly Inn
Buffington Room
Cost: $50 per table

In order to participate in this event you must reserve a table
by August 7, 2008

There are a few important questions about this process. Do they share phone numbers after the event? Do they have to fill out a form suggesting they like a candidate? What if a donor doesn't like a candidate but the candidate continues to call and call and call?

Tim vs. Tim

Posted at 9:08 AM on July 30, 2008 by Tom Scheck

MSNBC has a story on the two Tims (Tim Pawlenty and Tim Kaine) who are being considered as VP picks. Tony Perkins, with the Family Research Council, criticizes Pawlenty in the video.

Pawlenty to DC on Thursday

Posted at 9:49 AM on July 30, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Gov. Pawlenty will be in Washington DC tomorrow to talk education. Will he meet with Arthur Culvahouse during the trip? Here are the DC details:

Out of Many, One: Toward Rigorous Common Core Standards From the Ground Up

On Thursday, July 31, 2008, Achieve, Inc. will release "Out of Many, One: Toward Rigorous Common Core Standards From the Ground Up." The report shows that while 16 early adopter states individually set out to raise standards to ensure that their high school graduates were prepared for college, career and life, a byproduct of that work is a remarkable degree of consistency among the states around a common core of knowledge in English and mathematics.

Just as Achieve's original American Diploma Project (ADP) standards report, "Ready or Not," broke new ground by involving employers and higher education faculty in the standards-setting process, this new report forges unchartered territory by finding that states are leading the way in not just real-world standard setting but also in identifying the common core of knowledge that all high school graduates need to be successful.

This emerging "common core" has profound implications in the on-going debate over national standards and whether, and what kind of, federal action is warranted. While policy leaders debate national standards, is it possible that state-led efforts have already changed the debate? Are voluntary, state-led efforts leading to greater consistency in standards between and among states? Is it time to rethink how best to ensure that all high school graduates have the knowledge they need to succeed in the real world? Achieve's report findings and the implications for state and national policy will be discussed at the event.

Out of Many, One: Toward Rigorous Common Core Standards From the Ground Up
Thursday, July 31, 2008, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Capitol View Conference Center, Chamber Room
101 Constitution Avenue, NW, 8th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20001
(Directly across from U.S. Capitol Building)

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Michael Cohen, President, Achieve (confirmed)
Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), Vice-chair, Achieve Board (confirmed)
Governor Phil Bredesen (D-TN), (confirmed)
Gene Wilhoit, President, Council of Chief State School Officers (confirmed)

Pawlenty is in Chicago today to speak before the American Legislative Exchange Council. He'll be back in Minnesota on Friday to attend the memorial service for the 1 year anniversary of the 35W bridge collapse. He'll be in Iowa on Saturday. He's headed back to DC next week to speak at the GOPAC summit and the National Press Club.

The Independence Party backs Steve Sarvi

Posted at 10:03 AM on July 30, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The Independence Party is backing DFLer Steve Sarvi in his race against GOP Rep. John Kline in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District. Here's part of the release from the Sarvi campaign:

"The Independence Party occasionally endorses a candidate from a different party when we do not have a candidate from our own party," said Marian Brown, Second District chair. To be cross-endorsed, the candidate must agree with at least 75 percent of our key issues and meet several other qualifications. We look forward to having Steve Sarvi represent us in Congress." The party's core values include preserving the democratic process, justice, social inclusiveness, fiscal responsibility and protecting the environment.

Sarvi isn't the only DFLer who received the IP endorsement. 6th District DFLer Elwyn Tinklenberg received the IP endorsement in June. He is running against GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Tinklenberg on energy

Posted at 12:56 PM on July 30, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Elwyn Tinklenberg, the DFL endorsed candidate in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District, is holding an energy tour today. He met with reporters this morning to discuss his plan to lower energy costs. He also shared his thoughts on GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's call for increased drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and off the coasts. You can listen to the news conference here.

Coleman to give Stevens $ away

Posted at 3:24 PM on July 30, 2008 by Tom Scheck

ST. PAUL (AP) - Republican Senator Norm Coleman is giving away $10,000 from his campaign account because it came from a political action committee tied to indicted Alaska colleague Senator Ted Stevens.

The decision comes as Coleman's Democratic challenger Al Franken begins airing a statewide radio ad highlighting ties between Coleman and Stevens.

Coleman's campaign manager says the senator will donate the money to childhood cancer research. His decision follows that of at least five other Republican senators who are shedding contributions from Stevens' Northern Lights PAC.

Stevens is accused of concealing a quarter-million dollars' worth of personal gifts from oil interests in his state.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-07-30-08 1618EDT

Pawlenty takes Sam's Club message to Chicago

Posted at 3:39 PM on July 30, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The Swamp writes about Gov. Pawlenty's speech to the American Legislative Exchange Council:

Speaking at a luncheon to mark the opening of the American Legislative Exchange Council, which was sponsored by Sam's Club parent, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Pawlenty did not address speculation about being possibly tapped as a running mate to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

But in a 25-minute address at a downtown Chicago hotel, Pawlenty cited the need to fix the nation's education and health care system and to accelerate domestic energy production to meet the challenges of a global economy.

"I want to get the best value for my money," he said of visiting a Sam's Club. "That's missing in government in dramatic, dramatic measurement."

Pawlenty labeled the nation's education system as being in an economic, moral and social crisis that spans generations and criticized a "1940s industrial model" of paying teachers based on seniority.

Is this a preview of Pawlenty's National Press Club speech next week?

Obama to be in and out for fundraiser

Posted at 3:50 PM on July 30, 2008 by Tom Scheck

A spokesman for Barack Obama's campaign said Obama will not be holding any public events during his trip to Minnesota on August 6th. Obama is scheduled to attend a private fundraiser in Minneapolis next Wednesday.

Franken hits Coleman on Stevens scandal

Posted at 4:41 PM on July 30, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

No surprise here. DFL Senate candidate Al Franken is running a radio ad hitting GOP Sen. Norm Coleman on the scandal involving Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens.

As we already reported, Coleman is donating the money Stevens gave to his campaign to charity.

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