Polinaut: December 22, 2008 Archive

The Daily Digest: 12-22-08

Posted at 7:49 AM on December 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Democrat Al Franken has the latest lead in the recount.

The State Canvassing Board meets again on Tuesday to award the withdrawn challenged ballots.

The Minnesota Supreme Court will also hold a hearing this week on Coleman's latest ballot challenge.

The Pi Press takes a look at what it will take to declare a winner.

State Budget

Gov. Pawlenty targeted LGA and higher ed in his unallotment plans.

The Pi Press says police and fire budgets are targeted at cities across the state.

Hospitals also feel the effect of budget cuts.

The Star Tribune says the Iron Range's fast fall follows a boom.

Congress

Stocks are bracing for a tough week.

Trade barriers are toughening with the global slump.

The Washington Post says welfare rolls are growing.

The New York Times says President Bush's homeownership policy fueled the crisis.

A New York Times critic says GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's appearance on MSNBC is one of the year's most memorable TV moments.

Obama

President-elect Obama raises his jobs target.

ABC News says Obama's chief of staff to be had one call to Illinois' governor.

Obama is set to release the Blagojevich report.

Marty is testing the waters for a second run for governor

Posted at 2:19 PM on December 22, 2008 by Tim Pugmire (2 Comments)

State Senator John Marty, DFL-Roseville, has launched an exploratory campaign for governor.

Marty was the DFL-endorsed candidate for governor in 1994, losing to Republican incumbent Arne Carlson. He's currently serving his seventh-term in the Minnesota Senate, and is chairman of the Senate's Health Housing and Family Security Committee. Marty launched a website and sent an e-mail to announce his plans.

Dear friends,
Our state and nation face challenges that will not be solved by business as usual - the worst economic times since the great depression, the foreclosure crisis, rising unemployment, and increasing economic and social disparities. These challenges require the kind of change that is only available from a leader of vision and courage. That's why we are encouraging John Marty to run for Governor, and today we are announcing the formation of an exploratory campaign.

We are encouraging Senator Marty to run for Governor because of his vision, his strength, his integrity and his courage. Minnesotans are eager for change. We don't want politicians to continually tell us that universal health care will never happen, or that decent wages for workers are unrealistic, or that adequate funding for schools isn't feasible. We want a governor who will work with us to make things happen. We are confident John Marty can provide that leadership. We have seen John Marty's leadership in health care reform. Senator Marty is the candidate with the vision to design the Minnesota Health Plan - the only plan around that would provide affordable health care to every Minnesotan. We have observed John's strength, day after day, giving voice to Minnesotans' need for a health care system that works. He is building a growing coalition of individuals and organizations who support this bold reform. John is the candidate with the integrity to reject all money from the pharmaceutical and insurance industries and all other special interests. That kind of courage enables him to stand up and fight for, and win passage of, the Minnesota Health Plan. John Marty is rooted with conservative values - honesty, fairness, respect, frugality; John Marty has a progressive vision - healthy families, a safe environment, good schools - a better future.

Sincerely,
The Marty for Governor exploratory campaign

Other prominent Democrats have also said they plan to run for governor in 2010. The list includes State Senator Tom Bakk of Cook, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner and State Representative Paul Thissen of Minneapolis. Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty hasn't said whether he will seek a third term.

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Franken lead at 48 votes

Posted at 4:42 PM on December 22, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The Secretary of State's Office has released an unofficial look at the allocation of the thousands of challenges put forward by both campaigns. Democrat Al Franken picked up 3191 votes from the process. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman picked up 2955 votes from the process. That means Franken is leading Coleman by a margin of 236 votes of the withdrawn ballots.

When you apply that to Coleman's 188 vote lead of the ballots recounted across the state, Franken is leading by 48 votes. There are still a few outstanding issues like the fate of as many as 1,600 wrongly rejected absentee ballots and a Coleman court challenge regarding what the campaign says are ballots counted twice in the recount.