Capitol View: October 3, 2008 Archive

Survey USA: Dead heat in prez race with McCain surging

Posted at 7:58 AM on October 3, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

The latest KSTP/Survey USA poll has Republican John McCain leading Democrat Barack Obama by one percentage point. McCain is polling at 47%. Obama is polling at 46%. The poll is within the margin of error so you'll be seeing plenty of Get Out the Vote efforts in the coming weeks. Here's the Survey USA synopsis:

Minnesota behaves unlike other states in some respects. Among women, there is movement to McCain, at a time when McCain is losing ground among women elsewhere. Among voters younger than Obama, there movement to McCain, at a time when Obama is consolidating support among young voters elsewhere. Among voters older than McCain, there is movement to Obama, at a time when older voters elsewhere are sticking by McCain. In Western MN, which abuts the Dakotas, there is movement to McCain. In Northeastern MN, which overhangs Michigan, there is see-sawing back to Obama.

One other factor is the independent vote:

Complicating this analysis is the emergence of a possible protest vote. 12% of Independents, 8% of young voters, 6% of men, 6% of those who almost never go to church, 5% of Conservatives and 5% of Twin Cities voters tell SurveyUSA that they will vote for neither McCain nor Obama, but rather "some other candidate." How much of this protest can be attributed to the failure of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass an economic recovery bill, the day before interviewing for this survey began, is unclear. Ron Paul held his campaign "convention" in Minnesota a month ago. Bob Barr and Ralph Nader are on the ballot in Minnesota. Voters who tell SurveyUSA they are for "some other candidate" also tell SurveyUSA they are likely to change their minds. It is unclear how many actual votes will be siphoned from McCain and/or Obama on Election Day, however, polling results from the Norm Coleman / Al Franken U.S. Senate race in Minnesota, also released today by SurveyUSA, suggest the protest may be non-trivial.

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Bachmann on MSNBC this morning

Posted at 9:31 AM on October 3, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's office says Bachmann will talk about the economy on MSNBC this morning at 10 Central.

UPDATE: It's 11 AM and Bachmann hasn't appeared yet.

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Bachmann gets new campaign manager, NRA endorsement

Posted at 11:03 AM on October 3, 2008 by Tim Pugmire (2 Comments)

There's been a leadership change inside the re-election campaign of Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.

Bachmann's congressional chief of staff, Michelle Marston, is now in Minnesota's 6th district, working as campaign manager. She replaces Brandon Lerch, who was previously the press secretary for Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa.

Marston says she's on a leave of absence from her Washington duties through the end of the campaign. As for Lerch, Marston would only say that he "has moved on."

Meanwhile, Bachmann has received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA). In a campaign news relelase, Bachmann said she was proud to have earned the endorsement.

"It's been an honor to support Minnesota's strong sportsmen's heritage and to preserve the rights of law-abiding gun owners in Congress," Bachmann said.

The news release also quotes Chuck Cunningham, NRA Director of Federal Affairs, saying that Bachmann's solidly pro-gun/pro-hunting voting record in Congress, as well as her responses to a federal candidate questionnaire, earned her an 'A' rating.

Update: The campaign of Bachmann's DFL challenger, Elwyn Tinklenberg, reminds us that their candidate also received an 'A' rating from the NRA. Tinklenberg's rating was reported here earlier.

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The Hill: Coleman working to head NRSC

Posted at 12:01 PM on October 3, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The Hill is reporting that GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is working to head the National Republican Senatorial Committee in the next election cycle:

Coleman's vigorous behind-the-scenes maneuvering has raised eyebrows because he is in the midst of a close reelection race against Democratic challenger Al Franken.

A spokesman for Coleman said the senator is concentrating on his reelection campaign.

"Although many of the senator's colleagues have approached him about a leadership position, he is solely focused on addressing the needs of Minnesotans, and reaching out to Minnesotans and asking for their support to represent them again for another term in the United States Senate," said LeRoy Coleman.

House passed rescue package

Posted at 12:28 PM on October 3, 2008 by Tom Scheck

WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress has passed historic legislation to bail out the troubled financial industry .

Roll Call

Posted at 12:42 PM on October 3, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The House voted 263 to 171 to pass the bailout for the financial services industry.

Here's the roll call of Minnesota's Congressional delegation:

Yes

GOP Rep. John Kline
GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad
DFL Rep. Betty McCollum
DFL Rep. Keith Ellison
DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar

No

DFL Rep. Tim Walz
GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann
DFL Rep. Collin Peterson

1st District debate rescheduled for Oct. 9th

Posted at 1:44 PM on October 3, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The Rochester Chamber of Commerce says the debate between DFL Rep. Tim Walz and Republican Brian Davis has been rescheduled for Oct. 9th. Here are the details:

Minnesota First District United States House of Representatives Debate: Brian Davs/Tim Walz
Thursday, Oct. 9
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Ramada Hotel & Conference Center; 1517 16th St. SW

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What worries Al Franken...

Posted at 3:13 PM on October 3, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

I took this photo when I was walking my dog this week. The latest Survey USA poll suggests that I-P candidate Dean Barkley may be eating away at Al Franken's base.

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Things to watch for this weekend

Posted at 5:38 PM on October 3, 2008 by Tom Scheck

1) Sunday night's Senate debate in Rochester. It appears that GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and DFLer Al Franken are managing expectations for the event (h/t Political Animal). MPR has live coverage.
2) The 3rd District candidates will appear on WCCO-TV on Sunday AM.
3) Former VP Al Gore's speech at the DFL Founder's Day Dinner
4) GOTV efforts. Both presidential campaigns are ramping it up.

Have a nice weekend.