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Capitol View: October 8, 2012 Archive

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The Daily Digest (America's longest war, Bills goes on the offensive, Voter ID debate focuses on Military)

Posted at 6:27 AM on October 8, 2012 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

The war in Afghanistan marked 12 years on Sunday.

A mother commemorates America's longest war.

Economy

The unemployment rate dropped to 7.8 percent - the lowest level since President Obama took office.

Under the Dome

Politics in Minnesota says there are more than fifty people in the Minnesota Sex Offender Program who have committed their actions as a juvenile. All of them could be confined for life.

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson named the members of a task force to examine the Minnesota Sex Offender Program.

Congress

The Washington Post says the wealthiest members of Congress did not feel the effects of the recession and that some are writing legislation that benefit themselves and their relatives.

Amendment to ban same-sex marriage

The Star Tribune profiles Archbishop John Nienstedt.

Voter ID Amendment

MPR takes a look at the dispute as to whether overseas military members will need a photo ID to vote.

Race for Legislature

MPR says a race in the Edina area could determine which party controls the Minnesota Senate.

MinnPost says pocketbook issues are becoming key disputes in legislative races.

The Mankato Free Press takes a look at the race to replace GOP Sen. Mike Parry.

The PoliGraph says literature sent out by groups backing GOP candidates mischaracterizes past votes on funding for bird sanctuaries.

Race for Congress

The Cook Political Report has shifted Minnesota's 6th District from Likely Republican to Leans Republican. A signal that GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's support may be slipping.

Meanwhile, Republicans released an oppo dump on Democrat Jim Graves on late Friday afternoon.

The Star Tribune says Republican Chris Fields is making race an issue in his race against DFL Rep. Keith Ellison.

Republican Allen Quiest released a new ad.

AP takes a look at the race in Minnesota's 1st District.

WCCO reality checks the ads running tin the 8th District.

The Star Tribune takes a look at the business contributions to Congressional candidates.

Race for Senate

MPR takes a look at how Republican Kurt Bills has stepped up his criticism of DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar but still appears to be lagging in the polls.

The Pi Press profiles Klobuchar.

Race for President

Mitt Romney will discuss foreign policy today. He'll call for a change of course in the Middle East.

President Obama touted the recent job numbers in Virginia and Ohio.

Obama's poll numbers have dipped after the debate.

The polls, however, show signs of settling.

The New York Times says Obama's aides are plotting a comeback.

Politico looks at "Romney's revival."

Rural issues are rarely discussed at the race for president.

2014

GOP state Rep. Keith Downey is not ruling out a run for governor in 2014.

(1 Comments)

Nolan links Cravaack to Duluth plant closing

Posted at 2:45 PM on October 8, 2012 by Mark Zdechlik (2 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD8

Eighth District DFL congressional candidate Rick Nolan said incumbent Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack did not do enough to keep a Duluth hardboard manufacturing plant open.

Nolan held a news conference today outside the gates of a Georgia-Pacific plant that began shutting down in late August. The plant employed about 160 people 141 workers. Several of them stood behind Nolan as he linked Cravaack to the closing. Nolan suggested Cravaack did not more vigorously oppose the shutdown because the Koch brothers, who are direct and indirect financial supporters of Cravaack's campaign, have an ownership interest in Georgia Pacific.

Nolanpic.jpg

"Our Congressman Chip Cravaack has been all show," said Nolan. "He's been no go and when the working men and women in this district are looking for a champion, someone who will step up and fight for them to help keep and retain their good jobs, he's nowhere to be found."

The Cravaack campaign issued this statement in response:

"As Mayor Ness said, 'the news from Georgia Pacific is disappointing' and came as a surprise to everybody. While outside groups have been running attacks in this race on both sides for months, it's no coincidence that former congressman Nolan is speaking up now as his campaign becomes more desperate. Surely, a press conference to score political points and point fingers won't put families back to work. If Nolan was truly concerned, he would have issue with San Francisco-based CREDO SuperPAC setting up shop on Superior Street for over a year."
(2 Comments)

MPR News to host congressional debates

Posted at 3:23 PM on October 8, 2012 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2012, Campaign 2012: U.S. House, Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD1, Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD2, Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD3, Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD4, Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD5, Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD6, Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD8, Campaign 2012: U.S. Senate


So far this campaign season MPR News has aired debates in the 1st, 4th and 5th Congressional Districts.

Now MPR's The Daily Circuit will host debates in the 2nd, 3rd and 6th Congressional Districts.

In Minnesota's 2nd District, GOP Rep. John Kline and Democrat Mike Obermueller will square off in studio on Monday, Oct. 29.

In Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District, GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen will face Democrat Brian Barnes in studio on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

In Minnesota's 6th Congressional District, GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann and Democrat Jim Graves will debate the issues on Thursday, Nov. 1.

All the debates will be from 11 a.m. to noon.

MPR is also hosting a debate between DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Republican Kurt Bills on Sunday, Nov. 4 at the Fizgerald Theater in St. Paul at 7 p.m.

Also this week MPR News will air tomorrow's 8th District debate in Duluth between GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack and DFLer Rick Nolan at noon. That's tape-delayed by a couple hours. And Wednesday at noon we will air another 1st District debate recorded Tuesday night in Mankato (and moderated by some guy named Gary Eichten).

And at noon on Oct. 16 MPR News will air an 8th District debate live from Cambridge.

Click here if you're interested in listening to the debate in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District between DFL Rep. Tim Walz and Republican Allen Quist.

Click here if you want to listen to the 5th Congressional District debate between DFL Rep. Keith Ellison and Republican Chris Fields.

Click here if you want to listen to 4th District candidates DFL Rep. Betty McCollum, Republican Tony Hernandez and Independence Party candidate Steve Carlson debate the issues.

(3 Comments)

Poll shows growing opposition to constitutional amendments

Posted at 5:47 PM on October 8, 2012 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2012, Marriage Amendment, Voter ID Amendment

Public Policy Polling, a North Carolina firm linked to Democrats, says opposition to two proposed constitutional amendments has grown since the firm last polled on the issues.

The poll of 937 likely voters in Minnesota between Oct. 5 - 8 finds that a growing number of people are opposed to a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman, and a constitutional amendment that would require people to present photo identification to vote.

The poll found that 49 percent of those polled are opposed to the amendment to ban same-sex marriage while 46 percent support it and 5 percent say they're not sure. One percent of those polled say they won't vote on the amendment. The 50 percent threshold is critical because supporters need a majority to amend the constitution.

"The marriage amendment in Minnesota continues to look like a toss-up," wrote Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. "Voters are very closely divided on the issue."

Meanwhile, support for the so-called Voter ID amendment has dropped from previous polls. The measure still is supported by a majority of those polled (51 percent) but support has dipped seven percentage points since a June poll. Forty-three percent of those polled oppose the amendment, while 6 percent say they're not sure.

PPP will release data on the race for president tomorrow. The group tweeted that President Barack Obama is polling better in Minnesota than he did in the September poll. Several national polls, including one conducted by the Pew Research Center, signal that Republican Mitt Romney has picked up ground on Obama and now show the race as tied nationally.

DFL Sen. Al Franken and DFL Gov. Mark Dayton got positive marks in the poll. Forty-nine percent of those polled approve of the job Franken is doing in the U.S. Senate. Fifty-three percent approve of the job that Dayton is doing as governor.

Critics will argue that the poll is weighed too heavily towards Democrats. The poll found that 38 percent of those polled identify themselves as Democrats, 29 percent identify themselves as Republicans and 32 percent identify themselves as independents or other. The margin of error is +/-3.2%.

Read the full results here.

(2 Comments)
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The feature examines statements made by Minnesota politicians and checks them for accuracy. Based on data analysis, document reviews and interviews with non-partisan analysts, statements are rated true, misleading, false or inconclusive. More

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