Capitol View: October 23, 2012 Archive

Rasmussen Poll: Obama up 5 points in MN

Posted at 12:30 PM on October 23, 2012 by Tom Scheck (13 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2012, Campaign 2012: Presidential Race

A poll conducted by Rasmussen reports says President Obama is leading Mitt Romney by 5 percentage points in Minnesota.

The poll, which relies on an automated, robo-dial methodology, surveyed 500 likely voters on Oct. 21. It found that 51 percent of those polled support Obama and 46 percent of those polled support Romney. One percent supports another candidate and 1 percent is undecided. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

Rasmussen, which Democrats have long argued favors GOP candidates, is the first poll that shows the presidential race in Minnesota that close. Two other pollsters, Survey USA and Public Policy Polling (which is aligned with Democrats) showed Obama leading by 10 points in recent polls.

Republicans in Minnesota have said they believe Minnesota is competitive this year but the Romney campaign has spent little money or time campaigning in the state. President Obama's campaign has 11 field offices and more than 40 staffers working in the state.

Minnesota has not backed a Republican for president since 1972.

Fields says Ellison is "ducking debates"

Posted at 12:38 PM on October 23, 2012 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2012, Campaign 2012: U.S. House, Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD5

The Republican candidate for Congress in Minnesota's 5th District says DFL Congressman Keith Ellison is ducking a debate with him.

Chris Fields held a news conference to say Ellison's campaign canceled a debate scheduled to be held in north Minneapolis later today. Fields says Ellison made the move after the two engaged in a heated debate last week in which Ellison called Fields a "low-life scumbag." Ellison later apologized.

"Instead of giving the citizens of the north side and the 5th Congressional District a chance to participate in a substantive debate with a credible opponent, he is ducking the debate," Fields said. "This reflects the fact that Congressman Ellison cannot answer for his record of neglect and is sorely challenged when trying to control his temper."

Ellison, who attended an earlier news conference that focused on Medicare, declined to say whether he canceled the debate.

"It was canceled," Ellison said. "Debates are for illuminating the issues and this one wasn't going to do that. I can't speak for anybody but myself but I didn't think it was helpful to the process."

Ellison said he prefers to focus on the issues heading into the campaign. Minnesota's 5th Congressional District includes Minneapolis and some suburbs.

Ellison and Fields have debated three times this election cycle. They appeared on MPR during the State Fair, on WCCO Radio and on KFAI-FM.

Both Ellison and Fields will take questions separately today from representatives of the Coalition of Black Churches, Insight News and African American Leadership Forum. The event will be held at the offices of Insight News and will be broadcast on KFAI-FM at a later date.

Update: Ellison's campaign issued this statement:

"After holding more debates than the Presidential race, I have concluded that an additional debate with my Republican opponent is not in the best interest of the 5th District. As I have talked about my record and vision for the future, Mr. Fields has shed little light on his own vision and has pursued personal insults culminating in an attack on my family. I reacted badly, but even after my sincere apology, my opponent has not reset. In fact, he is clearly milking this for political gain. Instead of engaging in another spectacle, I will be out working hard every day, as I have been, for the people."

DFL candidates rip Republicans on Medicare

Posted at 1:02 PM on October 23, 2012 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2012, Campaign 2012: U.S. House, Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD2, Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD3, Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD4, Campaign 2012: U.S. MN CD5

From MPR's Mark Zdechlik...

Four Democrats running for Congress in Minnesota say Republicans are promoting proposals that would turn Medicare a voucher system.

DFL Representatives Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison say if Republicans are successful at repealing the Affordable Care Act, seniors would lose hundreds of millions of dollars in preventative care and prescription drug benefits.

McCollum says misleading campaign ads from outside groups are clouding the debate. Even so, she says she thinks seniors understand what GOP proposals would do to Medicare and Affordable Care Act benefits.

"Republicans for Congress are resorting to these false attacks because they don't want to be honest with seniors about what their plan really does for seniors and their families," McCollum said. "But we are not going to let them mislead the public and we are not going to let them run away from the facts."]]

Minnesota GOP Party Chairman Pat Shortridge says Democrats are trying to "scare" seniors. Shortridge say the GOP Medicare plan is the only plan that would ensure the program long-term solvency.