Polinaut: October 1, 2008 Archive

Daily Digest: 10-1-08

Posted at 9:33 AM on October 1, 2008 by Molly Bloom
Filed under: Campaign 2008, Daily Digest

Barack Obama will campaign in La Crosse, Wisconsin this morning. It's a critical battleground state (states if you include Minnesota and Iowa) for Obama and McCain.

Obama, McCain and Democratic VP candidate Joe Biden will head back to Washington DC to vote on the financial bailout package. The Senate has scheduled a vote for today.

McCain also says that inaction is not an option.

Politico says a nervous GOP is urging McCain to attack. An aide says the McCain campaign is on offense in Minnesota and other states.

The stock market stormed back after speculation increased that a bill will pass. The credit market, however, is still tight.

McCain's economic adviser appeared on MPR's Midmorning.

AP takes a look at an actuarial company report that says McCain has a one in four chance of surviving a second term.

2008 Race for Senate

The Hill says Democrats (like Al Franken) are hitting the GOP on social security.

CQ says Minnesota leans Republican.

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry gives the DSCC $1 million to help his party get to 60 seats. Franken is a beneficiary.

News-Max takes a look at the race.

2008 Race for Congress

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann, DFLer Elwyn Tinklenberg and I-P candidate Bob Anderson will debate the issues in Stillwater tonight.

Thursday's debate in the 1st has been postponed because the House is back in session.

Stu Rothenberg drops Minnesota's 1st Congressional District from his competitive list.

Erik Paulsen's campaign hits Ashwin Madia for not having kids or a mortgage. Question: If Paulsen believes it, why isn't he saying it?

2008 Other

Minnesota breaks its all time voter registration record.

Congress

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson may play a big role in negotiating a bailout bill. Peterson held a conference call with members of the Ag Committee to talk about an unspecified issue. He told MPR that they have to focus on derivatives.

The GAO says the FAA lacks the legal authority to allow slot auctions for arrival and departure slots for flights. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

The Duluth - Twin Cities rail line is on the federal list. Oberstar is mentioned.

GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad is still hopeful Congress will pass mental health legislation.

State Government

The Minnesota gas tax goes up three cents today.

Gov. Pawlenty visits Great Britain today as a part of his trade mission.

Health care costs are on the rise in Minnesota and that may be reducing demand. Kare11 and Star Tribune have stories.

Obama to visit Minnesota before election

Posted at 3:18 PM on October 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Barack Obama said he intends to campaign in Minnesota before election day. Obama held a rally before a crowd of 15,000 people in La Crosse, Wisconsin this morning. After the speech, Obama said he wasn't taking Minnesota for granted. He said he's been focusing his efforts in Virginia and North Carolina - states that typically don't vote for Democratic presidential candidates.

"It is probably true that in September we've been spending more time in those states. In October, we'll make sure to get to Minnesota. We'll make sure that we're campaigning actively because I think the people of Minnesota want change as desperately as everywhere else."

Obama didn't specify when the campaign visit would take place.

Note: I'll post Obama's speech when I return from La Crosse, WI.

Obama opens up lead in Time/CNN poll

Posted at 4:51 PM on October 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck

A new Time/CNN poll of battleground states says Democrat Barack Obama has opened up a lead over Republican John McCain in Minnesota:

Obama's also making gains over McCain in Minnesota, the state in which the Republican convention was held a month ago. Fifty-four percent of those questioned are backing Obama, with 43 percent supporting McCain, R-Arizona. That 11-point lead is much larger than the 2-point advantage Obama had in the last CNN poll taken in Minnesota a month ago.

3rd District candidates will be on WCCO on Sunday

Posted at 4:55 PM on October 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The super cool and always helpful Esme Murphy says all three candidates in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District will be on WCCO-TV on Sunday morning at ten o'clock. Republican Erik Paulsen, DFLer Ashwin Madia and I-P candidate David Dillon are all running to replace GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad, who is retiring. The open seat is one of the most competitive in the country.

Coleman and Klobuchar to back bailout package

Posted at 4:58 PM on October 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar and GOP Sen. Norm Coleman both say they will vote for the $700 billion rescue package for the financial services industry. Here's Coleman's statement on the bill:

"In a time of crisis, leadership and statesmanship are essential. I intend to vote in favor of the bipartisan financial stabilization package. The domino effect of not acting could topple the finances of every Minnesotan. At first sight, this bill may seem to do more for Wall Street than Main Street. But, at the core, this legislation is about the availability of capital - the lifeblood of the economy. When credit freezes, banks stop lending, businesses can't make payroll, and jobs are lost. Loans to pay for college, cars and homes become nearly impossible to obtain. Savings are jeopardized. We have no choice but to act. This bipartisan plan is crafted in a way that protects the American taxpayers and holds Wall Street accountable. It ensures no blank checks, contains stringent oversight protections to watch where the dollars are going, and limits executive compensation and golden parachutes for Wall Street executives. And, equally important, is we will create no new permanent bureaucracy. We've ensured that once we have achieved our goals and objectives, this plan will sunset. In our efforts to create a 21st Century financial system that works, we can't make the mistake of simply substituting one bureaucracy for another. Once this bill passes the Senate, the House must quickly follow suit to help stabilize the economy and protect the financial future of working moms and dads. Addressing this financial crisis may not be politically popular in the short-term, but for our long-term economic security and stability it is the right thing to do."

Here's Klobuchar's statement on the bill:

"I support this legislation to stabilize our economy with many reservations. I do not support it to rescue Wall Street. I support it to protect Main Street by averting an economic catastrophe that would otherwise force millions of Americans to lose their jobs, their homes and their retirement savings.

"This financial crisis should never have happened. It is an indictment of eight years of failed economic policies in Washington and irresponsible business practices on Wall Street. The administration allowed Wall Street to operate like a Wild West gambling hall awash in funny money. At the 11th hour, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson have had to step in as the house managers to shut the game down.

"Now the American people have to clean up the damage or else suffer even worse economic consequences. In just the last few weeks, we already see the signs of credit problems for average Americans and small businesses.

"I made it clear from the beginning that I opposed the Administration's 3-page plan and I have long advocated for better regulation of risky business practices, speculation, and price gouging and will continue to do so to protect middle class families. During the past week after we got the initial plan, I worked with my colleagues to strengthen the proposal with more protections for taxpayers and more limits on Wall Street.

"The revised plan addresses many of my concerns. It commits less taxpayer money by releasing funds only in installments; it has stronger oversight and transparency requirements to protect taxpayer money; it limits executive compensation; and provides the opportunity for taxpayers to share in any gains and to make sure that they're whole before the bondholders, the shareholders, and the executives.

"The legislation also includes a requirement for a Congressional proposal for new financial regulations by January 20th to protect the American people against another financial crisis in the future, by closing the regulatory loopholes on Wall Street. This will be a top priority for me in the coming months.

"I also voted for this legislation because it includes three other provisions that are very important to Minnesota. First, it extends the tax incentives that promote investment in renewable energy. These incentives have been essential to the rapid growth of Minnesota's homegrown energy, including wind, solar, and biofuels. Second, it revises the tax code to directly benefit the middle class; and finally, the legislation establishes parity in insurance coverage for mental health benefits, a matter of fairness and dignity that Paul Wellstone long fought for.

"I know that people in our state have strong feelings about this economic stabilization plan and I'm looking forward to going home to talk with all of you about it. But for now I felt while this is a sad day for this country that we got to this point, that we must avert an economic crisis and I continue to be humbled to be your Senator."

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Madia likely would have voted for the bailout

Posted at 5:34 PM on October 1, 2008 by Curtis Gilbert (3 Comments)
Filed under: U.S. MN CD3

DFL 3rd District congressional candidate Ashwin Madia had his own press conference today. He responded to questions raised yesterday by his Republican opponent Erik Paulsen's campaign about Madia's ties to the Minneapolis suburbs.

Madia responds to experience questions. Listen

Madia called the charges that he lacks sufficient suburban life experience "bizarre." State Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, leveled that criticism yesterday on behalf of the Paulsen campaign. He said Madia will have trouble understanding the problems facing suburban families, because Madia, 30, hasn't raised children or had to pay a mortgage.

"I find it slightly unnerving that people who have no problem sending 17- and 18-year-old kids 10,000 miles to fight and die in this war have such a problem sending a 30-year-old a few hundred miles to help end this war," said Madia, who served in Iraq as a Marine Corps lawyer.

Michel clarified his statement today, saying his concerns also include Madia's lack of legislative experience. Michel and Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey spoke with reporters after Madia did. Listen

In response to reporters' questions, Madia said he would "probably" have voted for the Wall Street bailout package that went down to defeat Monday in the U.S. House. Madia said the vote should have been delayed, and he is still hoping for a bill with more protections for tax payers and oversight outside the Treasury Department.

Independence Party candidate David Dillon says he would have voted against the package. He thinks Congress should "tee up" a bailout bill, but not start buying up mortgage-backed securities unless credit markets freeze up.

As of this posting, the Paulsen campaign has not said which way he would have voted on Monday's bill. At a debate last week, Paulsen raised concerns about the bailout's hefty price tag, and said at that point "I don't think I would be supporting it." Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, who holds the seat Paulsen, Madia and Dillon are seeking, voted against Monday's bill.

Madia also said there is nothing he can do about the negative ads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is running against Paulsen. KSTP has fact-checked a DCCC TV ad, giving it a 'D,' and it flunked a DCCC mailer accusing Paulsen of accepting campaign donations raised at a Las Vegas strip club.

By law, Madia cannot coordinate with the DCCC and he has no control over what ads they run.

"I wish there was something I could do about them, but there's not," Madia said of the ads. "To the extent that they're inaccurate, I condemn them."

Madia didn't say he believed the ads were inaccurate, and his campaign has also raised the strip club money accusation.

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Obama's speech from La Crosse

Posted at 10:04 PM on October 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Here's Barack Obama's speech from La Crosse, WI.

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Obama on bailout, ag cuts and baseball

Posted at 10:12 PM on October 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Do you know which Chicago White Sox player is a supporter of Barack Obama? Do you know what he thinks of the budget deficit? Sarah Palin?

Here's his briefing with reporters (MPR, WCCO and KARE):

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Ramstad's sweet tooth

Posted at 10:28 PM on October 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck

It appears that the White House and Congressional leaders may have found its sweetener to get GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad's to reconsider his vote on the $700 billion rescue package for the financial services industry. Mental health parity (along with tax breaks and an increase in the amount of bank deposits covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp). was added to the package.

Barkley ads

Posted at 10:34 PM on October 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Former Gov. Jesse Ventura makes a guest appearance in two radio spots for Dean Barkley's senate campaign. Barkley is the Independence Party candidate running against GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and DFLer Al Franken.

Here's the first ad.
Listen

Here's the second.
Listen

Sabato: Senate Race leans GOP

Posted at 10:38 PM on October 1, 2008 by Tom Scheck

UVA Political Science professor Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball says Minnesota's Senate race leans Republican:

Minnesota: Here's a state that still leans Democratic but overall can be unpredictable politically. Six years ago, Republican Norm Coleman won a narrow victory over former Vice President Walter Mondale (D), the substitute nominee after the tragic death of Senator Paul Wellstone (D) in a plane crash. Coleman is beatable in 2008, but it seems questionable whether satirist Al Franken can do it. Franken has had problem after problem. He was found to have had a substantial number of overdue tax bills in various states; some of his off-color satires from past years have not sold well in this more politically correct era; and some videotaped Franken tirades, laced with obscenities, have turned up in Coleman's advertising. Also assisting Coleman is the independent candidacy of Dean Barkley, appointed to the Senate for a few weeks by voluble Independent Gov. Jesse Ventura in 2002. Thanks to Barkley, Coleman can win with a plurality of less than 50% in a state that Barack Obama will carry by a wide margin. Had Democrats nominated one of their members of the U.S. House, they might have picked up this seat. But they didn't, and Coleman continues to work this state hard, and absent a massive Obama sweep, this one LEANS REPUBLICAN.