Capitol View: January 14, 2010 Archive

Minnesota politicos get involved in the Massachusetts Senate race.

Posted at 9:04 AM on January 14, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2008: U.S. Senate, Campaign 2010, Pawlenty travel, Tim Pawlenty

The U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts is getting very interesting. The polls are tightening, a Democratic staffer roughed up a reporter and one of the candidates posed nude for Cosmopolitan during law school.

Both political arms of the Senate are ramping up staff, money and support for their respective candidates, Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Scott Brown.

The stakes are huge for both sides. Republicans see an opportunity to win the seat, reduce the Democratic majority in the Senate to 59 and stop the health care reform bill.

Gov. Pawlenty is using his Freedom First PAC to direct contributions to Brown:

We have our best chance yet to stop the spending binge in Washington with Massachusetts Senate candidate Scott Brown. Brown is running neck-and-neck in a special election for the late Senator Ted Kennedy's seat and is Republicans' best shot at a 41st vote in the Senate to reject policies that firmly plant government as the arbiter of our lives.

But Democrats, like Sen. Al Franken, are working to make sure that doesn't happen.

Franken sent an e-mail to his supporters yesterday asking them to contribute to Coakley (the contribution runs through the Democratic leaning site Act Blue). He invoked the name of the late Ted Kennedy in the e-mail:

I served only briefly with Ted Kennedy, but like many of you I was inspired by his fight for health care for all Americans. I'm writing today because Ted's legacy is at risk. Polls show the special election for his Senate seat tightening, and voters head to the polls in less than a week.

If we lose Ted's Senate seat in Tuesday's special election, it's very likely that Republicans will have the votes to kill health care reform and undo all the tough, good work that's been done to fix our broken system. We simply can't let that happen.

DFL Latino Caucus backs R.T. Rybak for governor

Posted at 9:20 AM on January 14, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

The DFL Latino Caucus is backing R.T. Rybak for governor. I'm trying to determing how many people belong to the caucus. Update: This 2008 report from the Latino Caucus says it has thirty paying members.

Here's the release:

The gubernatorial campaign of Mayor R.T. Rybak announced today that Mayor Rybak has received the endorsement of the DFL Latino Caucus in his race for governor of Minnesota.

"Our state's rich cultural diversity is not tangential to why I am running for governor, it is central -- and after many years of working with the Latino community, I am very honored to have the endorsement of the DFL Latino Caucus," Mayor Rybak said. "My work has mayor has been focused on creating economic and educational opportunity for Minnesotans of all ages and backgrounds, and the Latino community in all its diversity has been a great partner in those efforts."

Mayor Rybak continued, "Unfortunately, for too long Minnesotans have fallen victim to the kind of old politics that has intentionally sought to divide us from one another. That politics has gotten us nowhere, and when I'm governor, I will bring it to a crashing halt. Instead, I will create opportunity by reconnecting Minnesotans, because our history shows that we have been most prosperous when we have been most connected to each other.

"The Latino Caucus represents one of the fastest growing parts of the DFL Party and was an early and powerful force in delivering Minnesota for Barack Obama. I look forward to working with the caucus in the coming months to bring new voters both to the DFL caucus and convention process and to the polls, and to enhance Latino representation in the new Minnesota," Mayor Rybak concluded.

Erick Garcia Luna, chair of the DFL Latino Caucus, said, "As mayor of Minneapolis, R. T. Rybak has consistently worked toward inclusiveness in a highly multicultural city. We are confident that as governor, he will lead the state of Minnesota based on the same principles: acknowledging the diverse composition of its population in order to move toward economic prosperity and social progress."

The DFL Latino Caucus supports and helps to elect Democrats who display keen and well-rounded knowledge that informs, empowers and educates all Latinos. The caucus seeks to utilize activist networks and organize fundraising to support Democratic candidates and to promote Latino issues all across Minnesota.

Robocall challenge dropped

Posted at 9:31 AM on January 14, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson's office says the conservative American Future Fund has withdrawn its request to strike down a state law that forbid political campaigns from making "robocalls" and instead requires live operators to conduct the surveys.

In November, the group filed the request with the Federal Election Commission for ruling. Swanson fought the request and apparently won.

Here's the release from Swanson's office:

America Future Fund Political Action, a national political action committee, has withdrawn the request it made to the Federal Election Commission to strike down Minnesota's law which prohibits political campaigns from making so‑called "robocalls" without the permission of the party called.

In late 2009, American Future Fund Political Action requested the FEC to strike down Minnesota's robocall law. The Minnesota law prohibits a caller from using an automatic dialing‑announcing device unless the subscriber knowingly requested, consented to or authorized receipt of the message or the message is immediately preceded by a live operator who obtains a subscriber's consent before the message is delivered.

"People have the right to be let alone in their homes, and robocalls are particularly intrusive and annoying to Minnesota citizens. The Fund's request to strike down Minnesota's law was misguided, and I am glad to see the request abandoned," Attorney General Swanson said.

On November 9, 2009, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson asked the FEC to reject America Future Fund's request and uphold the State's robocall law.

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Hahn launches IP bid for governor

Posted at 12:32 PM on January 14, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

A St. Paul businessman and political novice is entering the race for governor as an Independence Party candidate.

Rob Hahn is a former radio producer who now owns a small publishing company. He's never run for elected office. But during a news conference today to announce his campaign, Hahn explained how his lack of political experience would be an advantage. He said his campaign is about fresh leadership and fresh ideas.

"What really qualifies me for this job is my experience as a small businessman," Hahn said. "I've been in business now for 13 plus years. So, I know what it's like to look at a budget. I know what it's like to enjoy the good years, and I know what it's like to cut back in some of the years that aren't so good. And I think that's what we're lacking right now."

Hahn says he doesn't know if he'll abide by the Independence Party endorsement. He joins two other IP candidates for governor, John T. Uldrich and Rahn Workcuff.