Polinaut: August 11, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 8-11-08

Posted at 10:36 AM on August 11, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Sorry the Digest is late.

Think Ohio doesn't matter in the presidential race? Republican John McCain says he will work to prevent job losses in one Ohio town even though he initially backed the deal.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar will hold a hearing on the DHL merger in September. Company officials say it's not a merger and sent along this note:

The services contract under negotiation with UPS is not a merger, acquisition or joint venture. It is solely a customer-vendor arrangement whereby DHL purchases certain airlift and related services from UPS, as it does currently from other providers. Such arrangements have been common in the transportation industry for some time. The proposed services contract between UPS and DHL will not diminish competition between the companies in any way and will enhance express industry competition to the benefit of consumers.

Sorry about the error....

Both McCain and Democrat Barack Obama condemn the Russian assault on Georgia.

The Pi Press says younger voters are rallying behind McCain.

Obama may be nearing towards a VP decision. He'll announce it via e-mail and text.

Obama is now trying to call McCain a celebrity.

McCain may outspend Obama this month since he has to empty his coffers before the RNC.

Obama won the bobblelection.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

McCain says he still hasn't made up his mind.

The Star Tribune says Gov. Pawlenty's push for 1800 gas stations to have E85 pumps in the state ain't going to happen.

McCain may be considering Joe Lieberman for VP.

McCain and former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge meet for dinner in PA.

Smart Politics has two looks at what could happen if Pawlenty is tapped. One said the pick would be rare. Another says his poll numbers are going down because of it.

Minnesota Democrats also go after Pawlenty.

Pawlenty mistakenly puts the RNC in Minneapolis.

Conservative columnist John Fund writes about Pawlenty.

The vetting teams are looking at the candidate's backgrounds.

2008 Race for Senate

DFL Rep. Betty McCollum switches course and now backs Democrat Al Franken. MPR, the Pi Press and the Star Tribune have stories.

The St. Cloud Times says a veteran gets a one on one chat with Franken.

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman says the U.S. should rescind Iraqi reconstruction money.

The Austin Daily Herald writes about I-P candidate Dean Barkley's campaign.

2008 Race for Congress

3rd District Republican Erik Paulsen stakes out his position on energy and the war. The Pi Press, AP and MPR have stories.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann continues her push for increased drilling. The Pi Press also reports that she appears to be moving.

GOP Rep. John Kline is headed back to DC for a second week of protest on a lack of a vote on drilling.

Question for readers: Does the air come out of the drilling balloon if gas prices continue to go down?

DFL Rep. Tim Walz says he's worried about an automotive plant in Winona.

He also put forward a plan to cut taxes on the lower and middle class.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison and Republican Barb Davis White will appear in Hopkins but will speak separately.

Bachmann's Republican challenger begins his walking tour.

2008 Race for Legislature

GOP Rep. Mark Olson gets the GOP endorsement for a Minnesota Senate seat. A bigger pain for the RNC (lawmaker convicted of domestic assault on the ticket) or DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller (Olson has been known to talk and talk and talk and talk and talk...) MPR and the St. Cloud TImes have stories.

State Government

GOP Rep. Rod Hamilton feels duped since the Hwy. 60 fixes aren't happening.

University Ave. business owners step up opposition to LRT.

The PUC will consider approval for an Iron Range plant.

Lawmakers will hold a hearing on Thursday to look at contaminated groundwater related to 3M.

Congress

Sonia Pitt's hiring at TSA has some wondering whether the Department of Homeland Security's hiring practices are problematic.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz wants funding for a Rochester based energy system.

2008 RNC

Hard fundraising times are making it difficult for the RNC.

The Hamm's Plaza protest permit has been revoked.

2008 DNC

The theme of the DNC will be "America's Town Hall."
Hillary Clinton will headline the second night of the convention. Michelle Obama will get a primetime spot as well.

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Pollsters, Partisans and Prognosticators, Oh my!

Posted at 12:35 PM on August 11, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The U of M's Humphrey Institute's Center for the Study of Politics and Governance has announced a number of forums and panels to coincide with the Republican National Convention. Charlie Cook, Vin Weber, Thomas Mann, Larry Sabato, Ray Suarez, William Kristol, Stu Rothenberg and Norm Ornstein are just a few of the names on the list. Check the schedule here.

Full disclosure alert - My wife, Colleen, is a producer for Speaking of Faith which is hosted by Krista Tippett. Tippett will moderate one of the panels.

Party time!

Posted at 1:17 PM on August 11, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The Sunlight Foundation has a list of the parties at the RNC and DNC conventions. Sammy Haggar, Kanye West, the Black Eyed Peas and The Beach Boys are just a few of the performers on the list.

It looks like AT&T is renting out Brits Pub in Minneapolis for the week. Anheuser Busch (along with Citi and Honeywell) are renting out McGoverns. Eli Lilly has Great Waters for a day. GOPAC is going the Chino Latino route. Target is renting out the Depot for a night.

Let's play a game -- Which Minnesota politician will appear at which party?

Where will Gov. Pawlenty appear?

How about Al Franken and Norm Coleman?

Will Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman appear at any of the GOP events?

Which issues do you think the folks at AT&T, Target, Anheuser Busch and Citi will lobby lawmakers on?

Guess away!

Dr. No starts organizing

Posted at 3:41 PM on August 11, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Phil Krinkie with the Minnesota Taxpayer's League has formed a political committee to counter efforts to increase the state's sales tax and dedicate the money to the environment, clean water, arts and cultural programs. The group, known as No Constitutional Tax Increase, opposes the sales tax increase.

Krinkie, who was known as Dr. No during his time in the Legislature, probably seems at ease organizing this campaign.

Vote Yes (a coalition of sporting, environmental, hunting, arts and cultural groups) is pushing for voters to pass the constitutional amendment.

If a majority of those voting vote yes in November, the sales tax will kick in. If a majority vote no or choose not to vote, it is not included.

5 seats away from extinction...

Posted at 4:48 PM on August 11, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

I got my hands on a fundraising letter from GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert. It's eye opening since Seifert was telling reporters last month that they will retake the majority in November.

The letter, however, seems to focus more on defense than offense. It warns potential donors that:

"If the House Republicans lose five seats this November, the few remaining of the House Republicans will be no more than empty carcasses."

"If we lose five seats, the chance of maintaining a veto ever again under our governor is done, finished, extinct!"

"There is a clear and present danger in this purple state we call home and it is the possibility of a DFL controlled House and Senate that can override every veto by Governor Pawlenty. If that happens, we may as well be extinct."

Seifert raised more money than his DFL counterparts when the last campaign finance report was filed in January. We'll see who is ahead in the fundraising race when the next reports are filed on August 25th.

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Dems PAYING attention to 3rd

Posted at 5:21 PM on August 11, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Just saw two fundraising letters on behalf of 3rd District DFLer Ashwin Madia. Two Democrats in Congress will raise some dough for Madia.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar (Minnesota's 8th Congressional District) will hold a fundraiser for Madia on August 13th in Brooklyn Park. DFL House Rep. Melissa Hortman is hosting the event.

Florida Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz will also be in Edina on August 19th to raise money for Madia and DFL Rep. Tim Walz (who represents Minnesota's 1st Congressional District). Kelly Doran (who ran for the U.S. Senate and for Governor) will host that event.

Wasserman Schultz is a member of the New Democrat Coalition and is known to shake the money trees. She is the current Chair of the DCCC's Red to Blue program and appears to be in line to become the next Chair of the DCCC.

It's a clear signal that the DCCC has Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District on the priority list. Madia is running against Republican Erik Paulsen and I-P member David Dillon.

By the way -- You can e-mail any fundraising letters/requests/calls to tscheck@mpr.org or fax them to 651 227 5238. Anonymity is promised.

Franken and Coleman to answer YouTube questions Tuesday

Posted at 5:37 PM on August 11, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken will begin answering questions from the YouTube community on Tuesday. YouTube's YouChoose '08 featured Minnesota's Senate race and called for questions a few weeks ago. You can watch the submittted questions here.

MPR's Cathy Wurzer talked with YouTube's Steve Grove about the initiative. You can listen to the interview here.

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