Capitol View: January 20, 2010 Archive

Palin to campaign for Bachmann

Posted at 8:38 AM on January 20, 2010 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House, Tim Pawlenty

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann announced today that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will visit Minnesota to campaign for her on April 7th. Palin, who was John McCain's running mate in 2008, is considered a candidate for the White House in 2012.

In a news release, Bachmann said Palin knows indepedent minded voters:

"There is absolutely no one more in tune with the hearts and minds of everyday Americans than Governor Palin, and I'm excited to welcome her back to our beautiful state this spring," Bachmann said.

No further details on Palin's visit have been released at this time.

Bachmann is expected to face a spirited challenge in her reelection run in 2010. The DCCC has listed Minnesota's 6th as one of its Races to Watch list. That means the political arm of House Democrats will likely put resources and effort into the race. State Sen. Tarryl Clark and physician Maureen Reed are vying to win the DFL nomination to face Bachmann.

Bachmann and Palin will both appear next month at the National Tea Party Convention in Tennessee.

This will be Palin's second trip to Minnesota in the past few months. In December, Palin signed her new book, Going Rogue, at the Mall of America.

Palin's visit to Minnesota fuels speculation that Bachmann could back Palin over Gov. Pawlenty in the race for the White House. In December, she wouldn't commit to either of them.

Here's the full release from Bachmann:

U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann (MN-06) announced today that former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will come to Minnesota to assist Bachmann's re-election campaign on April 7, 2010.

"There is absolutely no one more in tune with the hearts and minds of everyday Americans than Governor Palin, and I'm excited to welcome her back to our beautiful state this spring," Bachmann said.

Both Governor Palin and Congresswoman Bachmann are well-known and respected conservative leaders whose bold and unwavering stances in defending the U.S. Constitution and commonsense approaches to issues like health care, taxes and government bailouts have attracted millions to their message.

"It didn't take the American people long to see through the extreme liberal agenda of President Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress," Bachmann said. "We saw American's frustration start in the form of tea party protests in states from coast to coast. It continued with the health care town halls throughout last summer. But we saw it come into full focus yesterday in conservative Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts, taking back a Senate seat that was held by Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy for decades. The American people have spoken, and the momentum is clearly at the backs of conservatives heading into the 2010 elections."

Details about Governor Palin's visit will be released as they become available. In the coming weeks, please visit www.michelebachmann.com for more information.

Update: Tarryl Clark's spokesperson, Andrea Mokros, released this statement on Palin's visit:

It's clear that Michele Bachmann is more focused on building her national conservative celebrity credentials than doing the work that is needed by the 6th District. From her Tea Party travels to hobnobbing with the conservative celebrity set, she's more interested in her personal agenda than in doing the work so desperately needed by the residents of the 6th District - like addressing the state's highest unemployment rates and foreclosure rates right in her own district. Bringing in her friend Sarah Palin to help her pursue those big-money national donors is just one more example of where Bachmann's focus really is - and its clearly not on doing work for her constituents.

Update: Here's a statement from Reed's campaign:

It is not surprising that Michele Bachmann continues to court the extreme right of the national Republican Party, while neglecting the needs of the district. This is just another example of Bachmann trying to enhance her national star power rather than working on preventing home foreclosures, creating jobs, or offering solutions to address our healthcare crisis. Palin, like Bachmann, brings polarizing rhetoric, intent on dividing people instead of bringing them together.

Maureen Reed is not a politician and has spent years as a doctor and businesswoman working with Democrats, independents, and Republicans dialing down fear and anger to get things done. Maureen's only priority in Congress will be the interests of the 6th district- the issues of today are too important for our representatives in Congress to spend their time courting the spotlight.

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Franken skeptical that Democrats will rush health care bill.

Posted at 10:45 AM on January 20, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2008: U.S. Senate, Campaign 2010

MPR's Cathy Wurzer interviewed DFL Sen. Al Franken this morning about the prospects of the health care overhaul bill now that Democrats lost the filibuster proof majority (Massachusetts elected Republican Scott Brown yesterday to the U.S. Senate).

DFL Sen. Al Franken said he's skeptical the health care overhaul bill will be passed before President Obama's State of the Union on January 27th. He said "I doubt that's going to happen," when asked if Congress will rush the health care bill through. He also said "We may need to pick up a Republican" to pass the bill. Listen to it here: Listen

Dayton: "You have my story for the day."

Posted at 10:46 AM on January 20, 2010 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton officially kicked off his campaign for governor today after being in the race for a year. After the announcement, Dayton took just three questions from reporters after parading six supporters up to the podium to introduce him. He also gave a ten minute speech.

Dayton said he wouldn't take any more questions when I tried to follow up in the hallway. His response: "You have my story for the day."

I'll post video of his announcement and his brief q and a session when it's converted.

Here's Dayton's speech:

Here's his q and a with reporters:

Update:

The Star Tribune's Rachel Stassen-Berger said Dayton told her "You can call me any time you want to ask as many questions as you want...You have my number."

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How quickly they forget

Posted at 12:54 PM on January 20, 2010 by Tom Scheck (7 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2008: U.S. Senate, Campaign 2010

Sen. John McCain, R-AZ, is circulating a petition calling for Democrats to immediately seat Senator-elect Scott Brown. Massachusetts voters yesterday elected Brown to the U.S. Senate. His election breaks the Democrats filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. McCain, who was the GOP nominee for president in 2008, said in his petition that Brown should be seated immediately:

Last night, Scott Brown won a stunning electoral upset and will be the first Republican Senator from Massachusetts in decades. I congratulate him on his victory and thank each and every one of you who generously gave your time and energy to make this victory possible for Scott and conservatives across the country.

His victory sent a strong message that you and I have long known - Americans are furious with the liberal leadership in Washington. Their out of control spending and proposed takeover of health care are destructive to our country and we must continue to fight against it.

I look forward to welcoming Scott as a colleague when he comes to Washington to join our battle against runaway spending and government run health care. But, unfortunately, there is now talk of Democrats employing Washington D.C. political games to move their agenda forward regardless of the people's will.

The Democrats are determined to do whatever is necessary to move their big government plans forward. Today, we've put together a petition urging Democrats to seat Scott Brown immediately and I ask that you sign this petition right away.

What a difference a year makes. Last year, Republicans were urging patience when the State Canvassing Board declared Democrat Al Franken the winner over Republican incumbent Norm Coleman. Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Arizona Sen. John Kyl (from McCain's home state) warned against seating Franken until the entire process was complete. Cornyn said seating Franken would lead to a filibuster.

For those wondering, Senate rules say a Senator can't be seated until a proper election certificate is presented. The Secretary of State in Massachusetts said that could take 10 days.

Update: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said they'll wait for Brown before they take action on the health care bill.

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Repya is in, Horner is close

Posted at 2:17 PM on January 20, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

The field of gubernatorial candidates for the Independence Party of Minnesota is now four, with a fifth expected later this week.

Former Republican activist Joe Repya filed his campaign paperwork today. Repya is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel from Eagan who ran unsuccessfully for state GOP party chairman in 2007. If elected governor, he says he'll only serve one four-year term. Repya describes himself as an honest consensus-builder. He says he's grown frustrated by the inability of Republicans and Democrats to solve the state's financial problems.

"It's a situation where we need a leader that the people will trust and will bring people together for the good of Minnesota, not the for the good of some political ideology," Repya said. "And that's the problem we have today in Minnesota."

Another former Republican is moving closer to running for governor as an IP candidate. Tom Horner, co-founder of the Twin Cities public relations firm Himle Horner, said he'll file paperwork for an exploratory committee later this week. Horner, a longtime political analyst for Minnesota Public Radio News, once served as chief of staff to former Sen. Dave Durenberger, R-Minn. He said he wants to give voters a good alternative.

"I'll be able to show a 30-year record of involvement in Minnesota public policy and politics, a 30-year record of really building coalitions and bringing people together around common sense solutions, and around solutions that really do reflect the interest and wishes of most Minnesotans," Horner said.

Other IP candidates for governor include Rob Hahn, John T. Uldrich and Rahn Workcuff.