Polinaut Category Archive: U.S. MN CD6

Politico: keep an eye on Minnesota's 6th district

Posted at 10:30 AM on November 10, 2009 by Tim Pugmire (0 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, U.S. House, U.S. MN CD6

There are a lot of big contests in 2010. And the race in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District is already getting national attention. Politico lists Rep. Michele Bachmann's bid for a third term as one of 10 contests to keep an eye on. Here's what Charles Mahtesian had to say about the 6th:

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann drives Democrats batty with her in-your-face conservatism, yet no matter what they throw at her, she still seems to end up on top. In 2008, Democrats thought she wouldn't be able to recover from her sensational October cable-television comment that Obama "may have anti-American views." Almost $2 million poured into her Democratic rival's campaign as a result. Still, Bachmann managed to pull off a narrow victory. This time around, bolstered by progressive online activists who detest Bachmann, Democrats are hoping to mount an even more aggressive effort to dislodge the two-term congresswoman. But that hasn't stopped Bachmann, who recently described Democrats' health care plan as the "crown jewel of socialism." And Bachmann won't be an easy mark - she's amassed an army of small donors and attained rock-star status on the right, which is just as eager to return her to Congress as the left is to send her back home to Minnesota.

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MPR poll shows comments hurt Bachmann

Posted at 9:54 AM on October 24, 2008 by Mike Mulcahy (2 Comments)
Filed under: President, U.S. MN CD6, U.S. Senate

A new MPR News/ University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute poll shows voter concerns over Rep.Michele Bachmann's recent comments have cost her support in the 6th District.

The poll of 430 likely 6th district voters shows 45 percent favor DFL challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg, compared to 43 percent for incumbent Bachmann. Support for Bob Anderson, the Independence Party candidate, was 5 percent.

The poll's margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.7 percentage points. which means the race is a statistical dead heat.

The survey was taken after Bachmann publicly questioned whether the views of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama were anti-American, and suggested the media investigate the anti-American views of Congress.

Nearly 4 out of 10 6th district voters said they were less likely to support Bachmann because of her comments compared to 8 percent who said they are now more supportive.

Bachmann's level of support trails John McCain, and Sen. Norm Coleman, who both have leads in the heavily Republican district. Coleman's 14 point lead over Democrat Al Franken is much bigger than McCain's 3 point lead over Barack Obama in the district.

Coleman had 44 percent support in the district compared to Franken's 30 percent. IP Senate candidate Dean Barkley is polling at 17 percent in the 6th District, and 9 percent are undecided.

In the presidential race in the 6th, McCain has 47 percent and Obama has 44 percent. Seven percent are undecided.

By way of context, Bachmann defeated DFLer Patty Wetterling 50-42 percent in 2006. In 2004 President Bush won 57 percent of the district's vote compared to 42 percent for John Kerry.

The poll was conducted between Oct. 21 and Oct. 23.

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Bachmann says she stepped into a trap

Posted at 4:14 PM on October 21, 2008 by Mike Mulcahy (4 Comments)
Filed under: U.S. MN CD6

Speaking to a business group in St. Cloud today Michelle Bachmann said she stepped into a trap laid by MSNBC host Chris Matthews, and she regrets that she used his term "anti-American" to refer to Barack Obama's views.

Thanks to MPR reporter Ambar Espinoza, here's what Bachmann said:

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She also answered a few questions from reporters.

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Decide for yourself how what she says stacks up against the original interview.

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The life of the party party

Posted at 7:28 PM on September 2, 2008 by Molly Bloom
Filed under: Campaign 2008, President, U.S. MN CD6

I stopped byThe Life of the Party party held by the Republican National Coalition for Life and Chairwoman Phyllis Schlafly. Schlafly is a socially conservative activist best-known for her opposition to feminism and abortion.

The event was being held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown St. Paul, which is also where the Texas delegation is staying. Fox News was being shown on TVs throughout the lobby, which I found out is not the norm but rather a courtesy for their Republican guests.

Protesters from Code Pink were outside the hotel greeting those who paid $95 to attend the event.

Gov. Sarah Palin was scheduled to accept the 2008 Life of the Party award at the event before she was chosen as McCain's running mate. She canceled her appearance late last night and while Schlafly did not express unhappiness while addressing the gathering, she expressed it to ABC News.

But the attendees I spoke with didn't seem disappointed -- they just seemed really excited about Palin. She's clearly energized the social conservatives and I saw one man with a hand-made "Vote Sarah" signed taped to his back.

A protester from Code Pink managed to make it inside the hall where the party was being held and got on stage during Schlafly's welcome. After grabbing the mic and starting to say how the "truly pro-life" members of Code Pink welcomed them, a few delegates got up on stage and escorted her off as the rest of the crowd spontaneously started singing "God Bless America."

Conservative radio talk show host Laura Ingraham and Rep. Michele Bachmann also spoke at the event. Gov. Palin's award was accepted on her behalf by Debbie Joslin of the Alaska Republican Party.

And delegates got to enjoy the music of the Twin Cities' very own Barbary Coast Dixieland Show Band.

Bachmann and Coleman to speak tonight

Posted at 12:03 PM on September 2, 2008 by Molly Bloom
Filed under: Campaign 2008, U.S. MN CD6, U.S. Senate

The RNC has confirmed that Sen. Norm Coleman and Rep. Michele Bachmann will be speaking at the convention tonight.

I will post what times they will be speaking as soon as the schedule is confirmed.

Update: Coleman will take the stage sometime between 7:00-7:30 and will be welcoming the delegates to St. Paul.

Update 2: Bachmann is slated to speak at 7:30, after Coleman.