Polinaut: October 19, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 10-19-08

Posted at 7:35 AM on October 19, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

GOP Rep. Michele Bachman will appear on WCCO this morning at 10 AM (GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and I-P Senate candidate Dean Barkley will also appear).

Bachmann's come two days after she made controversial comments on MSNBC's Hardball. Those comments created a cash infusion for her DFL opponent.

6th District DFLer Elwyn Tinklenberg's campaign says the campaign raised $450 thousand in the 24 hours following GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's comments on Hardball. MPR, the St. Cloud Times and the Pi Press have stories.

The Hill says candidates decry negative ads run by their parties. DFLer Ashwin Madia is mentioned along with GOP Sen. Norm Coleman.

2008 Race for Senate

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman calls on all parties to denounce negative ads and calls. The move comes after the DFL Party Chair made an appeal to GOP Sen. Norm Coleman to denounce a Republican robocalls.

The Senate candidates will be in Bemidji this week.

The Pi Press profiles GOP Sen. Norm Coleman.

The Star Tribune profiles DFLer Al Franken.

Forum Communications says the disagreement over the war runs deep.

Franken campaigned in Mankato. Coleman campaigned in St. Cloud.

2008 Race for President

The Minnesota Poll shows Democrat Barack Obama with a wide lead over Republican John McCain.

McCain talks politics with KARE's Rick Kupchella.

Forum Communications takes a look at where the different candidates stand on rural issues.

Obama reports that he raised $150 million in September.

Record crowds greet Obama in St. Louis. McCain is forced to campaign in normally GOP reliable Virginia and North Carolina.

GOP VP nominee Sarah Palin appears on SNL.

Gov. Pawlenty pleads GOP unity during a campaign stop in Michigan for McCain. He also takes a shot at polls and public radio. Minnesota First Lady Mary Pawlenty campaigned in PA with Cindy McCain.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar campaigns in New Hampshire for Obama.

The Chicago Sun-Times points out that one of the GOP talking points regarding Obama is wrong. Several GOP surrogates (including GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann) have brought up the name of Saul Alinsky. Obama was 10 when Alinsky died.

2008 Race for Legislature

Senate District 16 Republicans endorse Mark Olson for Senate even though he lost the primary. Olson is a write-in candidate.

2008 Other

Ramsey County is now looking at ACORN over voter cards. The cards in question were held longer than 10 days.

Forum Communications has a story on the debate over the proposed sales tax increase for arts and the outdoors.

State Government

The Star Tribune takes a look at the controversy surrounding a new mining venture on the Iron Range.

Regents approve proposal that would increase tuition at the U of M.

Minnesota has high seat belt use.

Congress

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned in this story explaining credit default swaps.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar wants a better ice breaker. How about "Do you come here often?" or "Haven't we met before?" Sorry, had to be done.

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Colin Powell endorses Obama

Posted at 9:12 AM on October 19, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama on Meet the Press this morning. He also had some stinging words for how some of the leaders in his Republican Party are attacking Obama.

Question of the Day: What does this endorsement mean?

Update: John McCain says the endorsement doesn't come as a surprise.

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Bachmann addresses her Obama comments

Posted at 10:36 AM on October 19, 2008 by Tom Scheck (25 Comments)

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann was on WCCO this morning and addressed her recent comments on MSNBC's Hardball. Esme Murphy asked Bachmann what she means when she said Barack Obama has anti-American views.

"It's the associations that Barack Obama has. It's interesting because the national media has had an incredible lack of curiosity about Senator Obama's views, about his relationships and associations and what real change will mean for the average American in terms of dramatic tax increases, in terms of enacting socialized medicine, in terms of enacting a tremendous climate change tax that will cost us $40 trillion. There are tremendous changes that are on the horizon especially one that a lot of people aren't aware of yet which is taking the right of the secret ballot away from the common worker. That's very concerning to a lot of people," Bachmann said.

"So you do feel that his views are Anti-American?" Murphy asked.

"I feel his views are concerning. I'm calling on the media to investigate them. I'm not saying that his views are anti-American. That was a misreading of what I said and so I don't believe that that's my position. I'm calling on the media to take a look at what his views are. I'm calling on the media to take a look at what his views are because I think they show an appalling lack of curiosity," Bachmann said.

You can see what Bachmann said on MSNBC's Hardball here.

Meanwhile...

Bachmann's DFL challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg's is reporting that he's raised $488 thousand since Bachmann made her comments on Friday. The DCCC also sent out a fundraising e-mail this morning saying they will get into the race if they raise an extra $100 thousand.

Note: I'll post the video once it's on WCCO's site. Here's the video.

UPDATE: AP has a story on Bachmann here.

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Tinklenberg hits $620 k in donations

Posted at 2:16 PM on October 19, 2008 by Tom Scheck (70 Comments)

An official with Democrat Elwyn Tinklenberg's campaign says the 6th District DFLer raised $620 thousand since GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann made her comments on Friday.

The source said another surge in donations occurred after former Secretary of State Colin Powell cited Bachmann as one of the reasons he endorsed Barack Obama. Powell called her comments "nonsense" during a briefing with reporters. You can watch his entire briefing here.

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Details for Hillary's Hibbing event

Posted at 8:42 PM on October 19, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Here are the details of Tuesday's Hillary Clinton event in Hibbing:

Sen. Clinton will speak with Minnesotans about her trust in Sen. Obama's steady leadership and ability to turn around our economic crisis and bring the change American families need.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21ST
Hibbing, MN

CHANGE WE NEED RALLY WITH SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON
Hibbing Memorial Arena
400 East 23 St.
Hibbing, MN 55746

Program Begins: 7:00 PM