Polinaut: September 22, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 9-22-2008

Posted at 6:45 AM on September 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

In a sign that Minnesota is becoming even more competitive, Barack Obama's staff is pulling out of North Dakota and are being sent to MN and WI.

Obama and John McCain sat down with 60 Minutes.

Obama said "no blank check" on the bail out.

McCain said he would not have a political office in the White House.

McCain also said he'd put New York's Attorney General (a Democrat) as head of the SEC.

McCain and Obama differ on deregulation.

The New York Times says loan titans paid McCain's campaign manager a bundle.

The candidates meet in their first debate on Friday.

Newsweek took a look at how many cars the candidates own. Obama - 1, McCain - 13

Will Obama now have to talk about race after polling suggests that some Democrats won't vote for him because he's black?

Gov. Pawlenty tries to rev up Iowa Republicans.

Minnesota voters nearing a voter registration mark.

A third of the electorate could vote by election day.

Bob Dylan will play at the U of M on election night.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar rallied women voters in West Virginia and spoke to students at Columbia University.

2008 Race for Senate

The three Senate candidate agree to 5 debates.

The Star Tribune fact checks where the candidates stand on Medicare.

The Wall Street Journal profiles I-P candidate Dean Barkley.

DFLer Al Franken helps SNL craft the latest McCain skit. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman's campaign rips him. Politico, the AP, the Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.

Franken will try to change the conversation today. He's holding a statewide tour on Coleman's decision to not hold an investigation in to fraud and waste in Iraq and Afghanistan.

2008 Race for Congress

RealClearPolitics places Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District as the 40th most competitive House race. Republican Erik Paulsen, DFLer Ashwin Madia and I-P candidate David Dillon are all vying to replace GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad.

The DCCC goes after Paulsen.

Indian Americans raise money for Paulsen.

The Pi Press profiles I-P candidate Bob Anderson, who is running in the 6th.

6th District DFLer Elwyn Tinklenberg is criticizing GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann for not attending a forum in Elk River. He also talked health care at a stop in St. Cloud.

2008 Other

The campaign to pass a constitutional amendment heats up.

State Government

Minnesota's courts are feeling a financial squeeze.

The economy could hammer the state's pension fund.

Atrazine is found in lakes far from its source.

St. Paul's Lafayette Bridge inspections begin today.

Congress

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann balks at the bailout on Wall Street. Question for Bachmann: What would she differently?

Other members of Minnesota's congressional delegation also weigh in on the bailout.

The House Ag Committee suspends the 10 acre rule. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar says the state could lose Hwy. 169 funding.

Finally

Larry Craig starts a legal defense fund.

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Poll: Obama opens up lead over McCain

Posted at 10:30 AM on September 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Rasmussen says Democrat Barack Obama has an eight point lead over Republican John McCain in Minnesota. 52% support Obama. 44% support McCain.

The Senate data comes out later today.

Franken hits Coleman on lack of investigation on reconstruction spending

Posted at 11:21 AM on September 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Democrat Al Franken held a news conference today to criticize GOP Sen. Norm Coleman for not conducting an investigation into miltary contracts in in Iraq and Afghanistan (read Franken release here). When the GOP controlled the Senate, Coleman was the chair of the Permanent Subcomittee on Investigations. Franken also addressed his thoughts on the bailout package for the financial markets. You can listen to the audio here:

Coieman's campaign released this statement before the Franken newser even started. Here's part of it:

Norm Coleman has been a strong supporter of a non-partisan entity created by Congress to conduct oversight in Iraq, working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to create the office of the Special Investigator General for Iraq Reconstruction, to save and extend the office when it was slated to be terminated, and to expand the capabilities of the office. (11/13/06 legislation introduced by Collins, Feingold, Coleman; 11/14/06 Senate passed legislation to extend SIGIR; 9/28/07 Senate passes Coleman/Collins Amdt to DOD Authorization to expand and extend SIGIR)

SIGIR was created in October 2004 and reports to both the U.S. Departments of State and Defense, in addition to providing quarterly reports to Congress. SIGIR alone has conducted 216 audits and has been responsible for $58 million in savings and $40 million in funds that have been redirected to be used more efficiently. In addition, SIGIR's investigative work has led to 14 indictments and arrests.

Over 50 oversight hearings have been held in Congress; more than 110 Government Accountability Office investigations on Iraq-related activities including over 50 on Iraq contracting; and at least 12 different entities are overseeing US government operations and expenditures related to Iraq.

(Thanks to MPR's Mark Zdechlik for supplying the Franken audio and photo).

Poll: Senate race a dead heat

Posted at 11:39 AM on September 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Rasmussen has GOP Sen. Norm Coleman leading DFL challenger Al Franken by one percentage point in its latest poll. Coleman is polling at 48% in the poll. Franken is polling at 47%. I-P candidate Dean Barkley is polling at 3%. The Margin of Error is +/- 4%.

Poll Watch alert! Quinnipiac University will release its Quinnipiac University/Wall Street Journal/washingtonpost.com poll on Tuesday. Get ready for another look at where the races for President and the U.S. Senate stand in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

NRSC goes after Franken

Posted at 3:28 PM on September 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Get ready for plenty of ads from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. A check at KSTP-TV shows that The NRSC intends has reserved $410,000 in ads like one at KSTP:

The DSCC has reserved $563,000 at KSTP. They have already run several ads ripping GOP Sen. Norm Coleman. This is the most recent one:

Several other groups like the Chamber of Commerce and The Alliance for a Better Minnesota have also ran/will run ads on the Senate race.

Bill Richardson to raise $ for Obama in St. Paul

Posted at 5:33 PM on September 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (a one-time presidential candidate himself) is holding a fundraiser for Barack Obama on October 2nd. Here are the details:

LATINOS FOR OBAMA

Cordially invite you to join them for a day reception with Governor Bill Richardson
An event benefiting the Obama Victory Fund
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008 12:00PM-1:30PM
The Landmark Center
75 West 5th Street
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102
$30,800 Lo Maximo / La Maxima
$2,500 Hermano/a
$500 Compadre $250 Amigo/a

Poll: Prez race a deadheat

Posted at 9:30 PM on September 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The polls are coming fast and furious. A poll by the American Research Group has Barack Obama leading John McCain by one percentage point. Obama is polling at 48%. McCain is polling at 47%.

Quinnipiac University's poll will be released on Tuesday morning.