Capitol View: February 6, 2012 Archive

Pawlenty rips Santorum for Romney

Posted at 12:27 PM on February 6, 2012 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2012

Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty is trying to give Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney a boost heading into Tuesday's precinct caucuses in Minnesota.

Pawlenty held a conference call with reporters today to specifically criticize Rick Santorum, who made a campaign stop earlier in the day in Rochester. Pawlenty highlighted what he described as Santorum's long history of pork-barrel spending. He said it's a record that should be concerning to conservatives, who are expected to make up a big share of Republican caucus attendees. Pawlenty predicted a close contest in Minnesota.

"I think Mitt will be competitive," Pawlenty said."But it's hard to tell who's going to be the person on the top of that pack. Turnout and small variations in turnout can have a big impact when you're dealing with such a small group of people."

Pawlenty was scheduled to host a late afternoon get-out-the vote rally for Romney, along with former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton. Romney was not scheduled to attend the event in Edina. Newt Gingrich has a campaign stop planned tonight in Bloomington.

Groups start push to stop Voter ID

Posted at 4:34 PM on February 6, 2012 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2012, MN Legislature

Opponents of a proposed constitutional amendment that would require people to show photo identification to vote want to make it an issue at Tuesday's precinct caucuses. DFL Congressman Keith Ellison said today minority groups, college students, senior citizens and disabled people could all be disenfranchised if the so-called voter ID requirement is added to the constitution.

"The biggest problem that we have is sort of easy assumption that 'oh everyone has an ID, don't they?" Ellison said. "That's the problem because we have to sensitize the population about the needs of the 1, 2 or 3 percent of the population that doesn't have an ID but that very same person may be your mother or your grandmother."

A group of faith leaders have also scheduled a Tuesday morning news conference to speak out against the measure.

Supporters of the voter ID measure say it would ensure integrity in the election system. GOP legislative leaders say they're confident the Legislature will vote to put the constitutional on the 2012 ballot.

A Senate Committee held a hearing last week on the plan but didn't vote on it.