Polinaut: August 6, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 8-6-08

Posted at 8:07 AM on August 6, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama will be in Minnesota later today to hold a private fundraiser in Minneapolis. The Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.

It will be a big dollar fundraiser, which the New York Times said is a major part of Obama's campaign.

Gov. Pawlenty welcomed Obama to the state by knocking Obama's energy plan. KARE, ABC and the Pi Press have stories.

Paris Hilton responds to the McCain celebrity ad and it's funny.

CQ takes a look at Minnesota's voting trends.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

Pawlenty spoke at GOPAC this morning and will talk about "Sam's Club Republicans" at the National Press Club at noon. MPR will air his speech live.

The Washington Post looks at the VP selection process.

The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the religion factor in the selection process.

2008 Race for Senate

Democrat Al Franken came out swinging at GOP Sen. Norm Coleman during the Farmfest debate. Forum Communications, the Star Tribune, KARE, MPR, the St. Cloud Times, the Marshall Independent, MinnPost, the Pi Press, KSAX, AP and Fox9 have stories.

Franken campaigns at a county fair but campaigns in the wrong spot.

The Austin Daily Herald has a story on Democrat Priscilla Lord Faris.

Business fears that this election could boost labor. Minnesota's Senate race is mentioned.

2008 Race for Congress

Some congressional candidates met at Farmfest. The Star Tribune, MPR and Forum Communications have stories.

The St. Cloud Times said GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann didn't attend the Farmfest debate.

2nd District DFLer Steve Sarvi gets a new campaign manager.

The Uptake writes about a volunteer/vendor for GOP Rep. John Kline. She is targeting DFLer Steve Sarvi at campaign events. Note, the reporter says he's a Sarvi supporter and sometimes volunteer.

Congress

Get ready to hear a lot about this - The GAO found that Iraq is banking billions in surpluses.

Lawmakers stop nursing home cuts. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is mentioned.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar wants the No Fly List fixed.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar wants the federal railroad board on taxpayers' side.

Oberstar is pushing for an increase in funding to essential air service.

State Government

Get ready to hear a lot about this - more than half of Minnesota's schools are failing to meet standards on math and reading. AP, MPR, AP and the Star Tribune have stories.

2008 RNC

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann puts the RNC in Minneapolis. That's wrong - it's in St. Paul

St. Paul police share the plans on how they'll spend $50 million. The Star Tribune and AP have stories.

Finally

Good news for society but bad news for 'Iggles fans. The NFL releases a fan code of conduct.

Something Pawlenty should think about today

Posted at 8:31 AM on August 6, 2008 by Tom Scheck

CBS News has a poll saying 30% of those polled say the choice of a running mate will have a great deal of influence on their decision.

Pawlenty gives an hourlong speech at the National Press Club at noon. You can listen to it on MPR's Midday.

Meanwhile, The Financial Times says Obama's pick is not coming soon.

Farmfest debate on Midday

Posted at 8:35 AM on August 6, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Folks have asked where they can listen to the entire Senate Farmfest debate. MPR's Midday will air it this morning at 11 AM. Pawlenty's speech is at noon.

Word of the day

Posted at 1:04 PM on August 6, 2008 by Tom Scheck

When asked what the most important quality of a Vice-Presidential candidate was, Governor Pawlenty replied:

Discretion

Listen to Pawlenty's entire National Press Club Speech here. Give it a minute or two to encode the audio.

Report from Obama's fundraiser

Posted at 9:39 PM on August 6, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Here's the pool report from the Obama fundraiser that was held in Minneapolis:

More than 350 campaign contributors - some of them donating $28,500 to dine with a presidential candidate -- cheered Democrat Barack Obama Wednesday at an exclusive fundraiser for him at the Minneapolis Hilton Hotel.

"I am absolutely convinced we will win Minnesota," the Illinois senator
said to roaring applause.

Among those standing for his speech in a ballroom were Karl Schmidt and
his wife, Ellen, of Minneapolis, who an hour earlier had a private
picture taken with Obama. The campaign charged $5,000 for such photos.

"He seems to connect well with people," Karl Schmidt said. "He's very
charming."

Schmidt is the chief operating officer for an auto dealership and said
"most of my peeers are Republicans," some who contributed to Sen John
McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee. "So it's a little odd."

It cost $1,000 to attend the general reception at which Obama spoke. The
campaign did not disclose how many people donated $5,000 for pictures.

But 50 people paid $28,500 each to dine privately with the Illinois
senator. The menu: lettuce cup salad, beef medallions, followed by
birthday cake from U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and other Minnesota
supporters.

Contributions were to be split between Obama and the Democratic National
Committee.

Among those at the general reception were Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak,
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken.

Klobuchar warmed up the audience before Obama's appearance.

Obama called Rybak "somebody who supported me before I started to run
for president."

He customized his standard stump speech in recognition of the importance
of the ethanol industry, but suggested possible changes in calllng for
"a new set of biofuels that will work for Minnesota and middle America."

"This is our movement, this is our time," Obama said, urging the donors
to "work with me."

Schmidt said he and his wife decided to attend the fundraiser because
"our economy is a mess, we're at a point where we have an opportunity
for some change. That's why we came."

Still, Schmidt said Obama's address seemed
similar to other speeches he's heard and that the senator said "nothing
really concrete."

U-G-L-Y

Posted at 10:58 PM on August 6, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Getting ugly...

Real ugly...

It's only August. Have we hit bottom yet?

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