Capitol View: June 3, 2010 Archive

Levin in Minnesota for Dayton

Posted at 8:58 AM on June 3, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Carl Levin, a Democratic Senator from Michigan, is in Minnesota today to campaign for Mark Dayton's campaign for governor.

Dayton's campaign says Levin and Dayton will meet privately with officials from the Minnesota National Guard and the Minneapolis VA Hospital. Levin is the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Levin will also hold a fundraiser for Dayton later tonight.

Friday forums

Posted at 3:18 PM on June 3, 2010 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

The three DFL candidates for governor and Independence Party's endorsed candidate will participate in a forum on Friday. The Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers is hosting a forum that features Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher (D), former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton (D), former legislator Matt Entenza (D) and I-P candidate Tom Horner.

The forum will be held at the Continuing Education and Conference Center on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics will also hold a forum on Friday night that features Kelliher, Entenza and Horner. That forum will focus on health care issues.

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Sabato calls MN Gov race a Toss Up

Posted at 4:04 PM on June 3, 2010 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato is calling Minnesota's race for governor a toss up. Here's his analysis (note, I'm sure some Republicans will quibble with his assessment that the GOP would have gladly nominated Norm Coleman):

Minnesota-Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) has White House fever and isn't seeking a third term. The floodgates opened, and every state politician with a decent resume gave or is giving this race a serious look. Republicans would gladly have nominated former Sen. Norm Coleman, but he declined to step up to the plate after an exhausting recount battle with now-U.S. Sen. Al Franken. Instead, the GOP faithful decided to nominate a very conservative but charismatic state legislator, Tom Emmer, who was endorsed by Sarah Palin. Minnesota has long ceased to be the predictable liberal state of Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale, so Emmer's pedigree isn't an automatic disqualifier and early polls show Emmer essentially tied with the Democratic frontrunners. Still, Democrats have a reasonable chance to take over the reins after the Pawlenty era if they can successfully make their way through a vigorous nominating process. Another former U.S. senator, Mark Dayton, is running on the Democratic side, and state House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher is probably a co-frontrunner with Dayton, who had an unhappy D.C. tenure but is wealthy. This being the land of Jesse Ventura, there will also be a representative of the Independence party on the ballot, Tom Horner, and his percentage points could tip the balance one way or another. For now, we call it a TOSS UP.

The entire State House picture can be found here.

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Levin stumps for Dayton

Posted at 10:01 PM on June 3, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Carl Levin, a the powerful chair of the Armed Services Committee in the U.S. Senate, campaigned today for Democrat Mark Dayton's campaign for governor. Levin and Dayton met privately with officials from the Minnesota National Guard and the Minneapolis VA Hospital. Levin also held an evening fundraiser for Dayton at the Minneapolis Club.

Levin said he got to know Dayton during Dayton's term in the U.S. Senate. He said he thinks his "sturdy independence" will make him a good governor.

"I watched him fight for Minnesota, Levin said. "I watched him fight for working people, for health care for people including for children. He's a gutsy guy. I saw him take on some of the powers that be. He's independent. He votes his conscious and I think any state is well served by having those types of public officials."

Roughly fifty people attended the fundraiser. During a brief speech, Dayton thanked the guests for financially backing his campaign especially since he spent $11 million of his own money to win the U.S. Senate seat in 2000.

"I was able to do all of my fundraising in the morning when I was shaving in the mirror," Dayton quipped.

During an interview, Dayton and Levin also stressed the Dayton helped secure federal funding for a national Beyond the Yellow Ribbon campaign. The program was pioneered by the Minnesota National Guard.

Dayton also emphasized his campaign is focused on Get Out the Vote efforts for the August tenth primary against Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and former legislator Matt Entenza. Kelliher has been touting her recent union endorsements but Dayton is also receiving significant backing from labor. He said he expects AFSCME, the Teamsters, the Steel Workers and the Police and Peace Officers union to convince their members to vote for him in August.

Dayton said he expects to go up on the air with TV ads in the next few weeks.

The Minnesota Republican Party sent out a news release raising Dayton's decision to close his office, Time Magazine rating him one of America's worst Senators and his decision to give himself a self grade of an F.