President Bush's fundraising visit in support of Senate candidate Mark Kennedy, comes when the president's approval rating in Minnesota has plunged. If that trend continues, it could hurt the chances in 2006. (12/09/2005)

The Pentagon is tentatively considering reducing the number of troops in Iraq by as many as three brigades over the next year, according to news reports. There are currently 18 brigades on the ground. Is U.S. military strategy in Iraq proving effective? ( 11/25/2005)

Two legislators are proposing a bill to guard against invasive species hitchhiking in oceangoing ships on Lake Superior. The legislation would require big international ships that travel in Lake Superior to treat ballast water before dumping it into the lake. (11/22/2005)

If a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage makes it on the ballot next year, it could give a big boost to Republican candidates for governor and U.S. Senate. (11/21/2005)

The 2006 race for Minnesota governor became more visible Friday, when four candidates shared a stage for the first time. Democrats Kelly Doran, Steve Kelley and Becky Lourey, and Independence Party member Peter Hutchinson spoke at a business forum on early childhood education. The four criticized Gov. Pawlenty's leadership in this area. (11/18/2005)

A budget-cutting package in the U.S. House would reduce funding for programs such as food stamps, Medicaid and student loans. Opponents of the bill are targeting four Minnesota Republicans, including 6th District Rep. Mark Kennedy, who's running for U.S. Senate. (11/16/2005)

State Sen. Becky Lourey, who elevated her profile by speaking out against the Iraq war that claimed her son's life, embarked Tuesday on a second run for governor. (11/15/2005)

Democratic leaders say the ouster of St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly signals more victories for the party in next year's election. Political analysts caution against reading too much into it. (11/09/2005)

Two days after Attorney General Mike Hatch entered the governor's race, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House has announced he's running for Hatch's job. (10/26/2005)

The DFL race to reclaim the governor's office saw heavy churning Monday as a big-name candidate got in, a long-shot candidate bowed out and a deep-pocketed candidate opened a $500,000 television ad campaign. (10/24/2005)

Attorney General Mike Hatch is officially entering the governor's race. Hatch could be a formidable candidate, having won statewide office twice. But he also ran unsuccessfully for governor twice in the 1990s, and there's no guarantee he will get the DFL endorsement in '06. Several DFLers are already running for governor, and they say Hatch joining the race doesn't discourage them at all. (10/23/2005)

The 56-year-old Democrat will make it official on Monday, he told supporters in a fundraising letter confirmed by a campaign spokeswoman. (10/19/2005)

Patty Wetterling ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Minnesota 6th District House seat last year against Republican Mark Kennedy, who will one of her competitors again in in the U.S. Senate race. But Wetterling says this time, she's running a smarter campaign. (10/09/2005)

Democrat Bud Philbrook launched his campaign for governor Sunday, promising to break the partisan gridlock at the Capitol but also taking some direct swipes at the Republican incumbent, Gov. Tim Pawlenty. (10/02/2005)

Kelly Doran says he's exiting Minnesota's U.S. Senate race and entering the governor's race because he underestimated the impact being a senator would have on his family. (09/21/2005)