Almanac: At the Capitol

Tune in to Almanac tonight because we think we have some news to report.  I’ve been working on the biographies of the Senate candidates in a show called "Senate Race MN: Big Three Moments" it’s the big three moments of the three candidates’ lives, the personal turning points for Dean Barkley, Norm Coleman and Al Franken.   The whole program premieres Oct. 22 8:00 pm on TPT-2.  

We got amazing access to all the candidates’ homes, wives, and children for emotional and candid interviews.  One candidate revealed something that he told me he wanted to get out before his opponents got to it first.  We will reveal that tonight on Almanac.  Next week we’ll have more interesting news on another candidate.  We’re talking about things that everyone has whispered about in Minnesota politics for years, but rarely if ever talked about on the record.

So, for all of those who wondered why my blog and I dropped off the radar screen recently, this is why.  This project has been incredibly surprising, rewarding and draining.  I see all the candidates in a different light and understand them on a deeply personal level and I think viewers will too.  We've never seen them like this.  I really have to thank the Barkleys, Colemans and Frankens for being so willing to open up about some of the most difficult times of their lives.

With primary opponents out of the way, Al Franken sought to "kick off the general election with a rally."  You'll recall he also kick-started his campaign after Ciresi got out of the race and got criticized for not being available to the media.  Today's event press release was careful to note that "a media availability will follow."  Franken's camp created some strong images with supporters rallying around.  The site was the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center, obvious symbolism there.

Since, Sen. Norm Coleman is in D.C. today, his campaign manager Cullen Sheehan had a press conference rolling out three new ads.  Sheehan also noted at Franked "failed to get the support of one-third" of voters in the primary.  They want former Sen. Dean Barkley in the debates and think Barkley will appeal to possible Franken voters.  Sheehan said "what Barkley does is put Franken in third place on public service" since he's never held office.

Political reporters are expecting a pretty predictable campaign, more of the same for the next 6 weeks.  But if Minnesota history holds true, big races bring big surprises at the last minute:  Boschwitz/Wellstone, Grunseth/Carlson, Wellstone/Mondale/Coleman, Pawlenty/Hatch.  Expect the unexpected in Minnesota politics.

 

First District Republican congressional candidate Brian Davis has to big the night's biggest winner.  He took on a well-known and well-liked sitting Senator Dick Day and won.  Day is a maverick who doesn't mind upsetting the party elite and that didn't help him in a primary that's usually filled with party activists.  If Farmfest was any indication, Davis will still have a tough road against Congressman Tim Walz who stills seems popular with the rural people in his district.

 

Next, on the winner's list is Dean Barkley.  The former U.S. Senator should have won this primary race, still he was running against an endorsed candidate and party chair.  He just needs to raise some money and start buying some media.  An IPer with name-id really makes the Senate race interesting and ultimately harder to predict.

 

Finally, the biggest legislative winner is probably Rep. Jim Abeler from Anoka.  He was one of the famous override-six and listening to his speech the last night of session it sounded like he even thought he was a goner.  He voted his heart, not necessarily his future and it was an emotional decision to watch.  It's never fun for a lawmaker to defy his caucus.

 

Now, in the loser category, Sen. Dick Day.  He's such a nice, fun guy who's a great sport.  The press corps really like the guy.  He's plain-spoken and colorful.  He just isn't into pleasing the party as I mentioned above.  The question now is if he'll retire from the Senate after once serving as the minority leader.  It's tough for former leaders to go back to being just rank and file members of the legislature.  It wasn't a great year for state lawmakers looking to move up.  Sen. Terri Bonoff was also defeated in a congressional run.  The legislature used to a springboard for higher office, we'll see if it works for Erik Paulsen in the 3rd or if the recent trend ends with Keith Ellison and Betty McCollum.

 

Priscilla Lord Faris spent some serious time and energy on a losing race.  Nearly 30% of the vote is not bad. The fact she did motivate some voters to the polls shows some dissatisfaction with Franken, but he may have time to overcome that.  Although the nible Coleman is still running a spot-on campaign. 

 

Finally, another well-liked lawmaker and one of the override-six concludes my list of the top winners and losers.  Rep. Neil Peterson fom Bloomington had character and spunk and that's always appreciated in the press.  But once again, you can't bite the hand that feeds you:  local party activists.

A couple of honorable mentions in the loser category:  Mpls. Rep. Willie Dominguez and Rep. Mark Olson who won't be elevated to the Senate. 

Leading my Campaign Notebook for this week, Pawlenty's national press blitz from "Face The Nation" this weekend, to FOX News earlier the week, from the Wall Street Journal story and sketch over the weekend.  We should know within weeks if he's the VP candidate. What will we talk about if he's not?

The Pew poll this week was big news. It's a good poll and details how McCain is picking up steam with older and blue collar voters.  It appears the same tightening of the race is happening here in Minnesota. Smart Politics talks about that and how Pawlenty's approval ratings have suffered in his home state with his visible national ambitions.  We'll have video proof of Obama's campaign in Minnesota trying to shore up this weakness with Walter Mondale and Josie Johnson launching a talking to seniors tour.

Then the Senate race, took another mudslinging turn as Coleman and Franken's campaigns tried to show the press they were more open and it was their opponents who were holding back details on unpaid utility bills and unpaid taxes.  As the Pioneer Press' Rachel Stassen-Berger so beautifully and bluntly asked each campaign yesterday "Don't Minnesotans have to choose between a tax cheat and a rent cheat?"  

Finally, Rep. Mark Olson just doesn't go away.  Instead of working at the local political level, now prominent Republicans are coming out against him from Sen. Norm Coleman to the Senate Republican Caucus who said he isn't welcome.  Assistant Minority Leader Sen. David Hann told me "We don't believe that Mark Olson should be a candidate."  When I said his local party chose to endorse him he said "I respect local endorsements, but we don't have to support their endorsement."

 

Gov. Pawlenty's national prospects and travels lead my Campaign Notebook this week. The week began with a warm welcome full of autograph seekers at Farmfest and ended with the story and photo on the front page of the New York Times. 
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U.S. Senate candidates U.S. Senate candidates Al Franken, Norm Coleman, Dean Barkley and Steve Williams debated outside of Redwood Falls. Energy was the top topic. Discluded candidates Priscilla Lord Faris, Jack Uldrich and Ole Savior are here standing by in protest.
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A sad day for sure. Politicians are seizing the opportunity to comment. Here's a round up of what is in my email box this morning.
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