Polinaut: August 14, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 8-14-08

Posted at 8:23 AM on August 14, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman's Washington D.C. apartment leads the Digest. Coleman lets reporters in to see the space. AP and the Star Tribune have stories. The Star Tribune also reports that Coleman didn't pay utilities until July after the news that he rented from political consultant Jeff Larson broke.

Democrat Al Franken proposes consumer credit changes. The Star Tribune and MPR have stories.

He also refuses to debate fellow Democrat Priscilla Lord Faris.

Coleman's campaign calls Franken's ad misleading.

The National Journal says Franken's getting hit by both sides.

Time's Joel Stein profiles Franken.

The New York Sun says Franken has a New York City problem.

WCCO Reality Checks Franken's latest ad.

2008 Race for President

Obama's campaign links McCain's economic plan to President Bush's plan.

McCain's campaign rips Obama for voting with President Bush nearly half the time even though McCain votes with Bush nearly ninety percent of the time.

The Swift Boat author goes after Obama.

Politico takes a look at the author.

John McCain wants to reevaluate the U.S. relationship with Russia.

He also sends some of his wingmen to Georgia.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar campaigns for Obama in Ohio.

WCCO Reality Checks ad buys vs. media coverage.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

McCain takes some possible VP picks to Aspen with him but Pawlenty isn't going.

McCain won't rule out a pro-choice running mate.

Beliefnet's Steven Waldman thinks McCain will pick Pawlenty. He also says Obama will pick Joe Biden.

The American Spectator writes about Pawlenty's chances.

The Note says McCain's folks are downplaying threats by the evangelical base on a possible Mitt Romney pick.

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum says McCain should play it safe but doesn't detail who he thinks the safe pick is.

An Obama adviser also says no VP pick has been made.

Stateline says Minnesota's is the 22nd most competitive state.

2008 Race for Congress

Immigration reform is an issue in Austin. It focuses on Minnesota's Congressional race between DFL Rep. Tim Walz and Republican challengers Brian Davis and Dick Day.

MinnPost says the 6th may be a bellwether.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison will address constitutional issues at the DNC.

2008 Race for Legislature

Senate Republicans say they won't support or welcome GOP endorsed candidate Mark Olson if he's elected to the Senate.

The Minnesota Spokesman Recorder takes a look at the primary battle in 58B. It includes DFL Rep. Willie Dominguez and DFL endorsed Bobbie Joe Champion.

State Government

State lawmakers will hear a report on the 3M landfill cleanup.

The Legislative Auditor will probe the out of state welfare use.

DOLI Commissioner Steve Sviggum makes the case for worker's comp reform.

The Met Council voted for a fare increase.

The new sesquicentennial license plates were unveiled

Fewer minorities are employed by the state than a decade ago.

Congress

Congress may compromise on energy. GOP Rep. John Kline is mentioned.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz praises House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's move.

The CNN anchor who interviewed GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann on drilling went to Alaska with Bachmann and the other House Republicans.

Airlines relent on a troop baggage fee. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman pushed for the change.

Truckers are urging driver's to go slow and may push for lower speed limits. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar, GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and his Democratic challengers don't support the measure.

Fuel realities burden fire departments. DFL Rep. Tim Walz is mentioned.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar gets an award from the Izaak Walton league.

2010

DFL Sen. Tom Bakk will meet with business leaders in Brainerd.

2008 RNC

Two of the A list parties are scheduled.

There is no free lunch at the RNC for politicians, however.

Protesters, police and lawyers prepare for the RNC.

The homeless will have a front row seat to the RNC.

Bar owners want to lower the St. Paul 4AM fee. MPR and the Star Tribune have stories.

The Pi Press says some prime spots aren't getting rented.

2008 DNC

Hillary Clinton's name is likely to be put in nomination.

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McCollum to hold rally during RNC

Posted at 12:28 PM on August 14, 2008 by Tom Scheck

DFL Rep. Betty McCollum's campaign said the 4th District Congresswoman will hold a rally/fundraiser on Day 3 of the RNC. McCollum, a Barack Obama supporter, will hold the Wednesday event at Mancini's which is just down the street from the Xcel Energy Center. It could (I'm stressing could here) also be the night that Tim Pawlenty accepts the nomination to be John McCain's running mate.

Pawlenty alert

Posted at 12:46 PM on August 14, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The governor will be in Wisconsin on Monday. He'll hold fundraisers in Madison and Milwaukee.

Senate GOP to Mark Olson: You're not welcome

Posted at 12:32 PM on August 14, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Republicans in Minnesota Senate have issued a news release bashing GOP Rep. Mark Olson. They say Olson, who was endorsed by the GOP, will not be welcome in the party:

Over the last few years, too many Republican office holders, especially in Washington, were given a free pass for personal misconduct because they "voted right." We could all recite the names. Well, it's time we go back to holding people accountable. While we respect our endorsing process in the Republican Party, some things rise far above process and party in terms of importance. The integrity and character of our candidates and elected officials are two of those things.

In Senate District 16, Mark Olson won the endorsement. That said, we are all well aware that Mark Olson's criminal conviction caused him to be kicked out of the House Republican Caucus as well as cost him the party's endorsement for his House seat.

It is our intention that Mark Olson, if elected, would not be welcome as a member of our Senate Republican Caucus. This is not a matter of philosophy; it is a matter of character and personal integrity.

For the past six years, the Senate Republican Caucus and the State of Minnesota have been the beneficiaries of exceptionally strong legislative leadership provided by former Senator Betsy Wergin. We see in Alison Krueger an outstanding alternative candidate who, like Senator Wergin, combines excellent conservative credentials with a high degree of personal integrity and character.

Accordingly, the Senate Republican Caucus will be throwing its full support behind Alison Krueger and encouraging Republicans in SD 16 to vote for her in the September 9th primary.

###

This seems to contradict Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem's thoughts after filings closed. At the time he didn't provide this level of outrage about Olson's candidacy. Is this a case of closing the barn door after the horse is already gone?

Meanwhile...

6th District Republican Chair Mark Swanson said the Minnesota Republican Party and Senator Senjem should respect the delegates decision:

"We're a party of individual responsibility and local control so I don't believe it's the role of either the state party or anybody else at those levels to say to 92 people who voted for Mark that you're wrong."

Swanson also said he originally supported Alison Krueger (who also filed for the seat). He said she agreed to stop campaigning if she didn't win the endorsement.

Looking for work...

Posted at 1:29 PM on August 14, 2008 by Tom Scheck

There are more people doing it. Minnesota lost 8,600 jobs in July.

Question of the Day: Does it help or hurt Gov. Pawlenty's chances at VP?

Senjem then vs. Senjem now

Posted at 2:42 PM on August 14, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The miracles of audio tape gives us some detail into Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem's thoughts on Mark Olson.

When asked about Olson's candidacy on July 22nd, Senjem said this:

"Well, we welcome Mark. I mean democracy is a wonderful thing. If people want to run for office, they have that opportunity. Mark will go through the process now, through the endorsement process. We'll see where that leads. Certainly if he emerges he's our candidate and certainly we're riding with him."

After MinnesotaDemocratsExposed raised concerns about Olson's candidacy on Wednesday, Senjem said this:

"Character and integrity in this case rise above party and process. And we felt that Mark, given his circumstances in life, specifically his conviction for spousal abuse, really didn't pass the test if you will for the kind of candidate we wanted."

Update:

Senjem just told Tim Pugmire that he hadn't thought much about Olson's candidacy at the time. He said upon further reflection, looking back at the court records and thinking through the implications of Olson actually winning led the caucus to come to the conclusion to exclude Olson.

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