Capitol View: June 14, 2010 Archive

DCCC adds 6th to Red to Blue list

Posted at 9:08 AM on June 14, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is set to add Minnesota's 6th Congressional District to its "Red to Blue" list. DCCC spokesman Ryan Rudominer said the announcement will be official shortly. The race features GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann against Democrat Tarryl Clark and the Independence Party's Bob Anderson.

The DCCC's decision to add Minnesota's 6th Congressional District to its list of targeted races means Democrats are optimistic they can defeat Bachmann this year. But it's no guarantee. The DCCC targeted Bachmann in 2008 and failed to win the seat. FEC reports also show Bachmann has been an active fundraiser. She raised $2.3 million through March 31st and has $1.5 million in the bank. Those figures don't include the funds Bachmann raised from a Sarah Palin fundraiser in April.

Rudominer said Clark should see a financial and organizational boost as a result of the decision but he wouldn't disclose how much money Clark could raise.

Dayton unveils campaign ad

Posted at 10:53 AM on June 14, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton has unveiled his first TV ad of the campaign, which will begin airing statewide this week.

The 60 second ad highlights Dayton's recent travel to all 87 Minnesota counties, as well as some of his accomplishments during one term as a U.S. Senator. He also mentions his plans to tax the rich, invest in schools and help senior citizens if elected governor. During a State Capitol news conference today, Dayton described the ad as a reintroduction of himself to voters.

"I haven't run a campaign since 2000," Dayton said. "I've been on television, but I haven't been on paid television with my own spots for 10 years. So, it is a way of reminding people of some of the key things I did, such as voting against the Iraq war."

Dayton is in a three-way DFL primary contest.

State Republican party officials describe the ad as an "extreme makeover" that fails to mention some of the low points of Dayton's senate term.

Horner leaves PR firm

Posted at 12:27 PM on June 14, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Independence Party candidate for governor candidate Tom Horner said today that he's leaving the public relations firm he co-founded in 1989. Horner announced today that he sold half of his shares back to Himle Horner and half to the company's president. Horner said he started selling the shares in the company in 2008 and finished selling the shares today. He said he has no more financial relationship with the company other than some limited consulting work with the Minnesota Hospital Association Twin Cities hospitals.

"I have sold all of my financial interest in Himle Horner. I have no more professional stake in Himle Horner. People ought to know that those issues that I speak directly about, as always, are the positions that I hold because of my philosophies."

Horner said recent criticism that he won't release his client list played no role in his decision to leave the firm. Several Republicans have called on Horner to release his company's client list but he's declined.

Update: MNGOP Chair Tony Sutton released this statement on Horner:

"Today's action by Tom Horner is a smokescreen designed to divert attention away from his failure to release his client list. To that end, we renew our call for Horner to immediately disclose his client list so voters can make their own minds up about any potential conflicts of interest. By failing to come clean on his client list, Horner thumbs his nose at Minnesota's tradition of open government and demonstrates that he is just another politician who can't be trusted. In addition, Horner needs to make public the full terms of the buyout agreement so the public has a complete understanding of his financial relationship with Himle-Horner moving forward."

Update: Horner says he won't disclose the list or the size of the sale.

A look at where the candidates are buying time

Posted at 12:55 PM on June 14, 2010 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Two of the candidates for governor are buying TV ad time at a rapid clip. Democrat Mark Dayton released an ad this morning that will start running on Tuesday. A look at Dayton's ad purchases at Twin Cities TV stations show Dayton spent at least $352,215. His campaign manager said the ad buy will be higher but the paperwork at some of the stations hasn't been processed yet.

Democrat Matt Entenza has spent $711,085 on ads between April 28th and June 14th. It appears that Entenza has been purchasing ads on a week to week basis.

Democrat Margaret Anderson Kelliher has not bought any ad time to date at Twin Cities TV stations. Her campaign spokesperson said they're scheduled to shoot a commercial and it will air after July 4th.

Here are the specifics from the TV stations:

Mark Dayton for Governor

KSTP-TV
6/15 - 6/21 24 spots at a cost of $28,420
6/22 - 6/28 26 spots at a cost of $22,470
Total time bought through June 14th: $50,890

KSTC-TV
6/15 - 6/21 Six spots bought at a cost of $1290
6/22 - 6/28 Five spots bought at a cost of $1210
Total time bought through June 15th: $2500

WCCO-TV
6/15 - 6/21 14 spots bought at a cost of $20,000
6/22 - 6/28 15 spots bought at a cost of $16,500
Total time bought through June 15th: $36,500

KARE-TV
6/15 - 6/21 23 spots at a cost of $37,500
6/22 - 6/28 20 spots at a cost of $28,900
6/29 - 7/5 32 spots at a cost of $19,125
7/6 - 7/12 28 spots at a cost of $15,125
7/13 - 7/19 40 spots at a cost of $27,625
7/20 - 7/26 41 spots at a cost of $26,275
7/27 - 8/2 73 spots at a cost of $44,000
8/3 - 8/9 79 spots at a cost of $40,525
Total time (as of 6/10): $239,075

WFTC-TV
6/15 - 6/21 3 spots at a cost of $2400
6/22 - 6/28 1 spot at a cost of $1000
Total spent (as of 6/10) $3400

KMSP-TV
6/15 - 6/21 14 spots at a cost of $12,950
6/22 - 6/28 9 spots at a cost of $6900
Total spent (as of 6/10) $19,850

Matt Entenza for Governor

KSTP-TV
4/27 - 5/3 42 spots at a cost of $16,850
5/4 - 5/10 - 42 spots at a cost of $17.590
5/11 - 5/17 48 spots at a cost of $21,160
5/18 - 5/24 47 spots at a cost of $22,815
5/25 - 5/31 44 spots at a cost of $26,045
6/1 - 6/7 44 spots at a cost of $26,295
6/8 - 6/14 41 spots at cost of $24,140
Total spent (as of June 14th) $154,895

KSTC-TV
4/27 - 5/3 5 spots at a cost of $435
5/4 - 5/10 5 spots at a cost of $435
5/11 - 5/17 5 spots at a cost of $435
5/18 - 5/24 6 spots at a cost of $585
5/25 - 5/31 5 spots at cost of $435
6/1 - 6/7 5 spots at a cost of $575
6/8 - 6/14 4 spots at a cost of $390
Total spent (as of June 19th) $3,290

WCCO-TV
4/27 - 5/3 42 spots at a cost of $30,975
5/4 - 5/10 - 35 spots at a cost of $25,675
5/11 - 5/17 37 spots at a cost of $28,925
5/18 - 5/24 37 spots at a cost of $29,275
5/25 - 5/31 40 spots at a cost of $31,125
6/1 - 6/7 31 spots at a cost of $30,525
6/8 - 6/14 25 spots at a cost of $28,225
Total spent (as of 6/14) - $204,725

KARE-TV
4/27 - 5/3 34 spots at a cost of $39,200
5/4 - 5/10 30 at a cost of $37,650
5/11 - 5/17 29 spots at a cost of $32,850
5/18 - 5/24 25 spots at a cost of $31,550
5/25 - 5/31 25 spots at a cost of $33,350
6/1 - 6/7 28 spots at a cost of $35,425
6/8 - 6/14 31 spots at a cost of $36,550
Total spent (as of 6/10) $246,575

WFTC-TV
4/28 - 5/3 3 spots at a cost of $1500
5/4 - 5/9 3 spots at a cost of $1500
5/11 - 5/17 2 spots at a cost of $1000
5/18 - 5/24 2 spots at a cost of $875
5/25 - 5/31 3 spots a a cost of $1700
6/1 - 6/7 1 spot at a cost of $2200
Total spent (as of 6/10) $8775

KMSP-TV
4/27 - 5/3 20 spots at a cost of $11,500
5/4 - 5/10 29 spots at a cost of $15,675
5/11 - 5/17 26 spots at a cost of $14,225
5/18 - 5/24 22 spots at a cost of $14,850
5/25 - 6/7 23 spots at a cost of $13,325
6/1 - 6/7 16 spots at a cost of $8450
6/8 - 6/14 28 spots at a cost of $14,800
Total spent (as of 6/10) $92,825

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Demmer catching NRCC's eye

Posted at 2:42 PM on June 14, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

Republican Randy Demmer is catching the eye of the National Republican Congressional Committee. The NRCC has added Demmer, who is running in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District, to a list of top Republican contenders. The NRCC announced today that Demmer has reached a "benchmark" that puts him on the path to the NRCC's "Young Guns" list. The group of young guns will receive party support and fundraising help to win elections.

The NRCC's Tom Erickson said Demmer is on the lowest level of the Young Guns list. If he improves fundraising and other organizational efforts, he said Demmer will move up another level. There are currently 23 Young Gun candidates.

Demmer is running against DFL Rep. Tim Walz.

Kelliher scores another union endorsement

Posted at 4:25 PM on June 14, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

The North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters today officially endorsed DFLer Margaret Anderson Kelliher for governor.

A news release from Kelliher's campaign says the union, which represents more than 12,000 carpenters, announced its support in Duluth, where Kelliher was holding an event as part of her "No Stone Unturned" jobs tour.

The carpenters union had earlier supported Tom Bakk before he dropped out of the race for governor.