Polinaut: August 12, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 8-12-08

Posted at 9:08 AM on August 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

The Republican National Convention leads the digest today.

A perimeter has been created around the Xcel Energy Center for the RNC. The Star Tribune, MPR, KARE and the Pi Press have stories.

Protesters sue to get closer to the RNC. MPR and AP have stories.

Politico says an enthusiasm gap plagues the GOP.

Politico has a guide to the 2008 conventions.

Fannie and Freddie will skip the RNC.

2008 Race for President

A unscientific straw poll taken at Farmfest has Republican John McCain leading over Democrat Barack Obama and GOP Sen. Norm Coleman thumping Democrat Al Franken.

Some bloggers are wondering whether McCain plagiarized his speech on Georgia.

The Washington Post says Obama has work to do among older voters.

There's also speculation that McCain may make a one term pledge.

Obama will start courting Republicans today.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

Democrat Al Franken favors cutting aid to Iraq by billions. The Star Tribune, MPR, the Pi Press, AP and Politico have stories.

The Washington Times says Franken's challengers are rendering his campaign as a "joke."

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman's campaign will hold a news conference to discuss their new ad.

I-P candidate Jack Uldrich releases a new web ad.

2008 Race for Congress

MinnPost says GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann is in line to land on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

Gov. Pawlenty was on Fox and Friends.

John McCain campaigns with former PA Gov. Tom Ridge in Pennsylvania but The New York Times says a McCain/Ridge ticket may have dimmed a bit.

Congress

A federal study finds that two thirds of corporations don't pay income taxes.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar said local roads need attention.

State Government

July was a good month for the state's coffers.

Minnesota doles out $18 million in unemployment assistance.

Metro Transit's fare increase proposal is up for a vote this week.

2010

Former GOP Sen. Rod Grams is pondering a run for governor.

Coleman and Franken on energy

Posted at 9:25 AM on August 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

YouTube's first question for GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken in the YouChoose Debate is How are you going to transform our energy policy?

Here's GOP Sen. Norm Coleman's answer:

Here's Democrat Al Franken's answer:

Poll: Obama leads among Christians

Posted at 11:09 AM on August 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)

A poll by the Barna Group, a Christian polling and resarch organization says Democrat Barack Obama maintains a nine point lead over Republican John McCain among Christians. The poll finds that the race is tightening.

Among the key findings -

1) Of the 18 faith groups identified in the polls, McCain is only leading among evangelicals and it's a narrow lead. Obama leads among the other 17 faith groups identified including the born again vote (Barna notes that would mark the first time in more than two decades that the born again vote has swung toward the Democratic candidate.

2) McCain has a narrow lead among evangelicals but a third say they're undecided and McCain's support is weakening among the group:

While some Christian voters seem to be questioning their early support for Obama, the McCain candidacy does not seem to be gaining momentum among evangelicals. Since June, the current level of support Sen. McCain has among evangelical voters has declined significantly (dropping from 78% to 61%).

The poll found that the Christian perspective is similar to that of the general voting public. Here are some interesting tidbits from George Barna:

-- When comparing the dimensions on which each candidate stands out in the eyes of voters, Sen. Obama emerged as the candidate of new ideas, for being black (mentioned as their reason for supporting him by 9%), for being different from George Bush (9%), and for his positions on health care (9%). In each case, the percentage of people naming those reasons substantially exceeded the percentage that identified those as reasons for their support of the Republican candidate.

Similarly, Sen. McCain stood out as being more likely to gain support related to his experience, knowing what the nation needs, for his position on taxes (9%), for being conservative (8%), for being a war hero (8%), and because of his military background (6%).

-- "It is unusual to see such significant movement within the core segments of the Christian community," George Barna explained. "While there is still a decided preference for Senator Obama, the more conservative element of the Christian population is slowly coming to grips with what an Obama presidency might be like. As the finer points of a wide range of issues are clarified by each nominee, the initial excitement about Senator Obama has lost some luster to an increasing number of people whose vote is influenced by their spiritual perspectives. If Sen. McCain converts such apprehensions into votes, this will be a closer race than many have anticipated."

Check the entire poll here.

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The playlists

Posted at 2:03 PM on August 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

Blender Magazine asked Barack Obama and John McCain to list their favorite songs.

Here's what Barack Obama has in his Top 10:

1. Ready or Not Fugees

2. What's Going On Marvin Gaye

3. I'm On Fire Bruce Spingsteen

4. Gimme Shelter Rolling Stones

5. Sinnerman Nina Simone

6. Touch the Sky Kanye West

7. You'd Be So Easy to Love Frank Sinatra

8. Think Aretha Franklin

9. City of Blinding Lights U2

10. Yes We Can will.i.am

Here's what John McCain has in his Top 10:

1. Dancing Queen ABBA

2. Blue Bayou Roy Orbison

3. Take a Chance On Me ABBA

4. If We Make It Through December Merle Haggard

5. As Time Goes By Dooley Wilson

6. Good Vibrations The Beach Boys

7. What A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong

8. I've Got You Under My Skin Frank Sinatra

9. Sweet Caroline Neil Diamond

10. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes The Platters

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The ground game begins...

Posted at 2:31 PM on August 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

It already started (does it ever stop?) but now the presidential campaigns are starting to talk about their GOTV efforts. Barack Obama's campaign talked about Minnesota's importance in the upcoming election (swing state, etc.) during a conference call. They also sent along this document that listed some of their plans.

Meanwhile, John McCain's Minnesota campaign is also using this weekend as a rallying point. They are calling on volunteers to knock on doors and make phone calls on what they are calling Super Saturday. The campaign sent out an e-mail listing 36 opportunities for volunteers to make calls or campaign for McCain. They're also holding 100 McCain house parties throughout Minnesota on Thursday night.

Nader to hold rally during RNC

Posted at 2:56 PM on August 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Ralph Nader's campaign for president says they will hold a campaign super rally at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis on September 4th (that's the same night that Republican John McCain will accept the GOP nomination for president). Here's a campaign video calling for McCain and Democrat Barack Obama to open up the debates:

Nader is also holding a so-called Super Rally during the DNC (it's the day before Barack Obama accepts the nomination). Here's part of the Nader campaign press release:

"The rally will be a call to action for opening the presidential debates..".

"...During his 2000 campaign, Ralph Nader drew sellout crowds to super rallies in arenas from Portland's Memorial Coliseum to Madison Square Garden..."

This rally will be part of a massive outpouring of protest in Denver and Minneapolis against the two corporate controlled parties and their policies of perpetual militarism and war..."

Meanwhile...

Ron Paul's Rally for the Republic has sold nearly 8700 tickets to date. Paul's rally will be held on September 2nd at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

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Let's have a vote...

Posted at 3:40 PM on August 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

It appears that there will be a push to change how Minnesota elects a President. Several lobbyists (including Gov. Pawlenty's 2002 campaign manger) have registered to lobby on behalf of The National Popular Vote. That group is pushing states across the country to scrap the electoral college system and adopt a system that allows the president to be elected by the national popular vote. Here's a snapshot of the effort from the groups website:

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee a majority of the Electoral College to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The bill would reform the Electoral College so that the electoral vote in the Electoral College reflects the choice of the nation's voters for President of the United States.

Several groups have complained that the electoral college system isn't fair since it gives certain states greater clout during the campaign. For example, the candidates will criss cross Ohio over the next few months but will only treat California like an in and out ATM. Others complain it's undemocratic since Democrat Al Gore received more votes than Republican George Bush in 2000.

Several states (including Maryland, Illinois and Hawaii) have adopted the system. It would take two thirds approval by Congress and the states to change the constitution. But the Constitution allows states to choose how the electors vote for President. The thinking is that if enough states bind together, the national popular vote will end up working.

DFL Rep. Steve Simon plans to introduce the bill next session. No other lawmakers are listed as supporters on the group's website.

So what do you think: Should the Presidential race be decided on the Electoral College system or by the national popular vote?

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Cue the videotape

Posted at 4:28 PM on August 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Republican John McCain's campaign praised Gov. Pawlenty's performance on Fox and Friends this morning. For the record, they have praised past Pawlenty performances (alliteration alert!) contrary to what other news outlets are reporting (see June 24th release on offshore drilling).

Anyhoo, McCain's campaign directed reporters to this video clip of Pawlenty talking about McCain's stance on the skirmish in Georgia.

I searched around for the full interview on Fox's website but couldn't find it (Pawlenty's folks don't give reporters a heads up when he's going to be on). Scheck shrugs shoulders (alliteration alert #2) and goes about his job. That is until Talking Points Memo posted this Pawlenty clip from the same interview.

So here's the question: How did Pawlenty perform in this interview? It's hard to judge when you haven't seen the whole video.

Klobuchar hitting the road for Obama

Posted at 4:34 PM on August 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar will campaign in Ohio on Thursday for Barack Obama.

Set the DVR... Pawlenty on Face the Nation

Posted at 4:51 PM on August 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The Fix is reporting that Gov. Pawlenty will be on CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday. He'll be squaring off against Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh (who is getting plenty of VP buzz himself).

Will it be a heavyweight fight for the ages?

(I guess I should call it a Light Heavyweight fight (since Obama v. McCain would be the heavyweight fight) so let's try it this way:

Will it be the light heavyweight fight for the ages?

Chris Cillizza thinks so:

Make no mistake: every person involved in the vice presidential selection process for McCain and Obama will be watching closely to see how each man does. And while these appearances are not likely to prove conclusive in making up either nominee's mind, they are certain to play a role in the decision making.

Both men have something to prove.

Bachmann brings Jesus into drilling debate

Posted at 7:38 PM on August 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann invoked Jesus Christ when talking about global warming and the fight over drilling. One News Now reported this:

House Republicans say Speaker Nancy Pelosi is playing politics at the expense of the American economy -- and taxpayers are suffering as a result.

House Republicans say they will continue their floor revolt over gas prices during the congressional recess until Nancy Pelosi allows an up-or-down vote on offshore oil drilling. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota) says she plans to return to Washington to join in the protest.

"[Pelosi] is committed to her global warming fanaticism to the point where she has said that she's just trying to save the planet. We all know that someone did that over 2,000 years ago, they saved the planet -- we didn't need Nancy Pelosi to do that," says Bachmann. (NOTE -emphasis is mine)

"But she is committed to not allowing any drilling," the Republican lawmaker continues. "She, [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid, and also the Democrat [sic] presidential presumptive nominee Barack Obama are all committed to no new energy, whether it comes from natural gas, oil, or coal, or nuclear power."

In statement issued yesterday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) declared "Republicans are clearly frustrated that the American public is not buying their Johnny-one-note energy policies of the past." He also called on Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) to apologize for saying Speaker Pelosi would "get rolled" on Election Day if she continues to "block the will of the American people."

Bachmann is a fierce advocate for increased oil drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. She's running for reelection against DFLer Elwyn Tinklenberg.

UPDATE:

Bachmann's campaign says she'll be on CNN on Wednesday:

Bachmann TV

Our Congresswoman, Michele Bachmann:

Calling for Real Energy Solutions

CNN

Tomorrow- Wednesday, August 13th

11:10 am CDT

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Pawlenty on Fox again

Posted at 10:52 PM on August 12, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Here's the video (For those who want to save time - he mostly deflected VP questions and made his Sam's Club pitch):