Capitol View: September 9, 2008 Archive

Bachmann on Larry King tonight

Posted at 12:48 PM on September 9, 2008 by Tom Scheck

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's campaign says the 6th District Republican will make another appearance on CNN's Larry King Live tonight at 8 Central. It looks like tonight's topic will focus on "The female factor" regarding women voters and Sarah Palin.

Update: McCain's campaign just released a statement saying Bachmann is a part of the "Palin truth squad." Here's what they say she and other will do:

In the event of false attacks, rumors and smears against Governor Palin, the Palin Truth Squad will issue alerts and statements to voters and the media to set the record straight. Additionally, the Truth Squad will be available to respond to inquiries from the media.

The NRA backs Walz, gives Tinklenberg an A rating

Posted at 3:06 PM on September 9, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The campaign for DFL Rep. Tim Walz just released a statement saying the National Rifle Association's Political Action Fund has endorsed Tim Walz:

"During his first term in the House, Congressman Walz consistently supported the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen, and demonstrated a strong commitment to the Second Amendment and our country's rich hunting heritage," said Chris W. Cox, Chairman of NRA-PVF. "Because of his unwavering pro-gun support, Tim Walz earned an 'A' rating and an endorsement from NRA-PVF."

This is significant since the NRA is usually (but not always) aligned with Republicans.

It must be NRA day since 6th District DFL candidate El Tinklenberg also announced that he received a high rating from the NRA. He's running against GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann. I'm trying to determine whether the group endorsed in the 6th. An official with the NRA says an endorsement hasn't been made in the 6th but an announcement will come soon.

Paulsen hits the air.

Posted at 3:29 PM on September 9, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

3rd District Republican Erik Paulsen released his first TV ad today. The campaign gave the ad to reporters but said it will be on YouTube shortly. I'll link to it when it's up.

The ad features Paulsen's two kids talking about how Paulsen thinks Washington should stop spending and taxing so much. The most significant aspect of the ad, however, isn't what's said but what's seen. The ad features video of Paulsen and GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad. Ramstad, who is retiring, received wide support during his tenure in Congress.

Paulsen is the last candidate in the 3rd to start running ads. I-P candidate David Dillon made a small cable buy. DFLer Ashwin Madia has been running two ads on cable and broadcast.

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I-35W bridge to open next week

Posted at 3:37 PM on September 9, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Here's the release:

The Interstate 35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge is scheduled to open to public traffic during the week of September 15, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced today. "Throughout the rebuilding process, we have kept the memories of the victims of last August's bridge collapse in our thoughts and prayers," said Mn/DOT Commissioner Tom Sorel. "This bridge has been built to the highest possible safety standards and is coming in ahead of schedule and on budget. We're looking forward to seeing motorists using the new bridge next week." The bridge is expected to open to traffic as early as Tuesday, September 16, 2008. A news conference with Governor Tim Pawlenty and other officials will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, September 15, at the bridge to announce the specific opening time and other details. Construction on the new I-35W Bridge began on November 1, 2007 and crews have worked around the clock since then. The project has employed extensive safety and quality inspection programs to ensure that the finished bridge will be high quality, safe and last for at least 100 years. During the final week of construction, work crews will continue:

Installing and testing anti-icing and smart bridge systems
Finishing and striping the bridge deck
Installing roadway signs
Landscaping areas along the corridor
Installing and testing traffic signals and lights
Cleaning up the site

"I-35W in Minneapolis is a major transportation artery for the Twin Cities and entire state. Each day this bridge has been closed it has cost road users more than $400,000," Commissioner Sorel said.

"Area residents, business owners, motorists, workers and countless others have been affected by this corridor's closure. The opening of this bridge reconnects our community."

Students grill Madia on Russia, Georgia, baseball... and dating

Posted at 3:44 PM on September 9, 2008 by Curtis Gilbert

Ashwin Madia went back to his old school this morning. The 3rd District DFL congressional candidate took questions from students at Osseo Senior High School in a wide-ranging forum.

Due to technical problems I wasn't able to record the very first question -- it was just a softball about why he joined the Marines. But here's the rest of the half-hour Q&A:

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(The moderator is Bill Bauman, who teaches world history and government at Osseo. He said he has invited Republican Erik Paulsen and Independence Party candidate David Dillon come talk with students, too.)

Questions covered a number of topics Madia has addressed publicly before, like his position the Iraq war and renewable energy. But they also pinned him down on some new topics, including:

Opening diplomatic relations with Cuba in Iran: He says we should do it. "It's a whole heck of a lot better and a whole heck of a lot cheaper than going to war over a disagreement."

The conflict between Russia and Georgia: Madia said the U.S. needs to make sure Russia "lives up to its commitments that it signed under the ceasefire." But he said Georgia isn't just an innocent victim, either: "I don't think it's as simple as blaming one side or the other.... Our government's been blaming Russia quite a bit in this thing, abut I think both sides sort of share some blame, Georgia and Russia."

A $5,000 tax credit for higher education proposed by DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken: Madia supports it. Madia also released details today on a $21 billion-a-year plan to put more money into No Child Left Behind and special education. He plans to pay for it without a tax increase by shifting funds away from other programs, including education earmarks and federal subsidies for private student loans.

Students also had some softer questions.

Politicians he most admires: Bill Clinton and U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., the extremely popular congressman whose seat he hopes to win for the Democrats.

Red Sox or Twins: Even though Madia was born in Boston, he chose correctly. "No contest," he said. "Twins."

Is he single? Yes. "When you're campaigning, you don't get a chance to date all that much."

But the most revealing question was: "What's your favorite Osseo Senior High memory?"

Madia, who came out of nowhere to beat a better-known candidate for the DFL endorsement this spring, explained he moved to the Osseo school district during his junior year. He didn't know anybody and the election for student government was held a mere two weeks into the semester.

"I just went all out and started campaigning," Madia said. "No one's ever heard of me before. We put posters up all over the school, and I just tried to meet as many people as I could."

Madia hopes this election is as successful as that one was.

Senate races decided early

Posted at 8:53 PM on September 9, 2008 by Tim Pugmire (1 Comments)

Within 50 minutes of the polls closing, the Associated Press had declared the nominations in three party primaries for the U.S. Seante.

Incumbent Norm Coleman won the Republican primary big over Jack Shepard. Al Franken won the DFL nomination over Priscilla Lord Faris and others. And in the Independence Party contest, Dean Barkley won convincingly in a field of seven candidates.

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Bachmann beats Immelman

Posted at 9:04 PM on September 9, 2008 by Tim Pugmire

Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann easily won the 6th District GOP primary on Tuesday.

Bachmann, a first-term incumbent, defeated GOP challenger Aubrey Immelman, an associate professor of psychology at St. John's University. Immelman, a first-time candidate, did not accept any campaign contributions. He walked across the congressional district last month to draw attention to his campaign. Bachmann now faces DFL candidate Elwyn Tinklenberg, a former state transportation commissioner, in the general election. Bob Anderson is also running in the 6th district as an Independence Party candidate.

Two Minnesota House incumbents fall in primary

Posted at 9:57 PM on September 9, 2008 by Tim Pugmire

Two incumbent Republicans who helped DFLers override Governor Tim Pawlenty's veto of a transportation finance bill earlier this year faced primary challenges. Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, won his primary over Don Huizenga, but Rep. Neil Peterson, R-Bloomington, lost to Jan Schneider.

In Minneapolis, first-term incumbent Representative Willie Dominguez lost to challenger Bobby Joe Champion in the District 58B DFL primary. There were primaries in 27 of the state's 134 House districts.

Mark Olson loses GOP primary for vacant senate seat

Posted at 10:54 PM on September 9, 2008 by Tim Pugmire

State Representative Mark Olson of Big Lake has lost his quest for a vacant Minnesota Senate seat after a 271 vote defeat in the Republican primary.

Olson lost to Alison Krueger in the GOP primary for the special election in senate district 16. A month ago, Olson won the local party endorsement even though he had been earlier ousted by the House GOP caucus after his conviction on a domestic assault conviction.

Leaders of the Senate GOP caucus announced last month that they were supporting Krueger, and they warned Olson would he would not be welcome in their caucus if he managed to win the senate seat.

Alison Krueger will now face DFL candidate Lisa Fobbe of Zimmerman in the special election, which is also held November 4th.

The District 16 vacancy was created when Governor Pawlenty appointed Betsy Wergin to the state Public Utilities Commission.