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Capitol View: September 16, 2008 Archive

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The Daily Digest: 9-16-08

Posted at 8:33 AM on September 16, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

The economy is the focus of the campaign as Wall Street braces for another tough day.

The Fed, meanwhile, just pumped $50 billion into the nation's financial system.

The news comes as Minnesotans are already worried about pocketbook issues. The Minnesota poll says seven in ten think the government needs to do more to help Americans.

Experts say Minnesota's economy will be fine because it's well insulated.

The New York Times takes a look at the different approaches that the candidates are taking on Wall Street.

John McCain is calling for a commission. It comes one day after he said the "fundamentals of the economy are strong."

The Barack Obama campaign will address the Great Lakes today in a conference call.

Obama could raise $9 million in one day.

He also mocked John McCain's promise to bring change.

Politico takes a look at why McCain is on offense.

Sarah Palin won't meet with troopergate investigators.

She also details her role in a potential McCain administration.

Five former Secretaries of State urge the next POTUS to start a dialogue with Iran.

The interest groups are also getting ready to dive in.

2008 Race for Senate

MPR profiles I-P candidate Dean Barkley.

DFLer Al Franken campaigned in Rochester and campaigned at the AFL-CIO convention in Duluth.

KAAL takes a look at where Franken and GOP Sen. Norm Coleman stand on Medicare.

2008 Race for Congress

Here's a look at the race between DFL Rep. Tim Walz and GOP Challenger Brian Davis.

KAAL takes a look at where the two stand on health care.

A group of doctors and nurses endorse Walz.

Congress

Newsweek says Congress may soon pass an energy bill.

Thousands of Minnesotans still need to file for their stimulus checks.

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and others push the USDA to set up a new crop subsidy program.

Rail safety advocates want a new system. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

State Government

The State Canvassing Board will meet to order two recounts today.

The I-35W bridge will reopen on Thursday morning. MPR, AP, the Pi Press and the Star Tribune have stories.

The Pi Press takes a look at how the Victims Compensation Fund will determine funding for the bridge collapse victims.

An Ethics panel finds no wrongdoing for DFL Sen. Satveer Chaudhary.

The Twins ballpark will be renamed Target Field.

Finally

Former GOP Rep. Mark Kenney resurfaces with the new Economic Club of Minnesota.

Nader asks parrot for increased coverage

Posted at 10:39 AM on September 16, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Presidential candidate Ralph Nader is calling for the media to cover his campaign. He does so with a bird.

For those of you who are wondering, Nader is on the ballot in Minnesota.

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Think Norm is trying to make this race about Franken?

Posted at 11:04 AM on September 16, 2008 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)

When you first visit Norm Coleman's campaign website it doesn't say a word about the Republican incumbent. Instead, it features the latest ad questioning Franken's temperment. You have to click on one of the entries to actually find out where Coleman stands on the issues. Coleman's own name isn't even on the front page.

UPDATE: A Coleman staffer just called to say Coleman's name is on the page twice (he's citing colemanforsenate.com not Norm Coleman). He added that the page is "temporary."

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3rd District candidates will be on Midday next month

Posted at 11:45 AM on September 16, 2008 by Curtis Gilbert
Filed under: Campaign 2008: U.S. MN CD3

Just eight days before voters go to the polls, the candidates in one of the hottest congressional races in the country will appear together on Minnesota Public Radio News.

Democrat Ashwin Madia, Republican Erik Paulsen and Independence Party candidate David Dillon will be Gary Eichten's guests on Oct. 27. The program will be part of Midday's "Meet the Candidates" series, running for half an hour starting at 11 a.m. Because of the short time frame, Midday will not be taking listener questions that day.

It is the last joint appearance before election day currently on the candidates' schedules.

3rd debate photo for blog.jpg
Dillon, Madia and Paulsen first appeared together last month in a debate sponsored by the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce.

The candidates face off tonight in an AARP-sponsored forum. That airs live on Twin Cities Public Television at 7 p.m.

Next week the candidates meet twice more. There is a Sept. 22 forum at Bet Shalom Congregation in Minnetonka starting at 7 p.m. That one is sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.

Then on Wednesday, Sept. 24, they'll share the stage at the Plymouth Creek Center in Plymouth. The Minnesota Senior Federation organized that forum, which starts at 9 a.m.

Mark Olson wants write-in votes counted

Posted at 1:07 PM on September 16, 2008 by Tim Pugmire


State Rep. Mark Olson, R-Big Lake, will make one more bid in the Senate District 16 special election as a write-in candidate.

Olson lost the Republican primary last Tuesday to Alison Krueger. But the next day, Olson notified the secretary of state's office that he will be a write-in candidate in the general election on Nov. 4. The official notification is required for write-in votes to count.

Olson was ousted by the House GOP caucus after his conviction on a domestic assault conviction. Leaders of the Senate GOP caucus supported Krueger in the primary, and they warned Olson would he would not be welcome in their caucus if he managed to win the senate seat.

Krueger will face DFL candidate Lisa Fobbe of Zimmerman in the special election.

2nd District Debate scheduled

Posted at 2:43 PM on September 16, 2008 by Tom Scheck


The Chaska Herald is reporting that a mid-October debate has been scheduled between GOP Rep. John Kline and DFL challenger Steve Sarvi. The Greater Carver Country Chambers of Commerce is sponsoring the debate. It's on October 13th at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in the MacMillan Auditorium.

Bachmann on Larry King (again)

Posted at 4:33 PM on September 16, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's office says the 6th District Republican will appear on CNN's Larry King Live tonight at 8:15. The show will focus on the economy.

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Paulsen hits $2 million mark

Posted at 5:10 PM on September 16, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Republican Erik Paulsen's campaign sent out an e-mail blast to his supporters this afternoon. It revealed a few tidbits like the upcoming debates in the 3rd District and his new ad. But the most interesting part is Paulsen's note on his fundraising:

Some additional good news, on Friday I reached a fundraising milestone of $2 million. The fact that the majority of the money I've raised from individuals has come from Minnesotans shows the enormous support behind this great race.

This is a clear signal that the fundraising arms race will continue in the race to replace GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad.

A spokesman for DFLer Ashwin Madia said the campaign won't release their fundraising numbers until the filing period. Both Paulsen and Madia have said that they need to raise about $3 million each to compete in the 3rd. That's not counting the outside interest groups (DCCC, Chamber, etc.). I-P candidate David Dillon has raised much less than the other candidates.

The race will be the most expensive Congressional race in Minnesota history if Paulsen and Madia hit their fundraising targets. The 2006 contest between Republican Michele Bachmann and DFLer Patty Wetterling raised and spent $5.7 million between the two of them.

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Paulsen, Dillon and Madia face off at AARP forum

Posted at 8:23 PM on September 16, 2008 by Curtis Gilbert

The candidates vying to succeed U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., debated issues ranging from Iraq to Social Security to gay marriage in a forum this evening sponsored by AARP and Twin Cities Public Television.

You can listen to it here.


And here's what the candidates looked like while they were waiting for the show to start.

CD3 AARP TPT.jpg

Left to right: Independence Party candidate David Dillon, DFLer Ashwin Madia and Republican Erik Paulsen.

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The feature examines statements made by Minnesota politicians and checks them for accuracy. Based on data analysis, document reviews and interviews with non-partisan analysts, statements are rated either true, false or inconclusive. PoliGraph is a collaboration between Minnesota Public Radio News and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. More

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