The Daily Digest: 10-25-06

The governor’s race leads the digest and boy, is it a tight contest. A new Survey USA poll says DFLer Mike Hatch and Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty are running neck and neck.

The poll also says Democrat Amy Klobuchar extended her lead on Republican Mark Kennedy.

With the race for governor so close, the candidates are leaving nothing for granted. One thing Hatch and Pawlenty are investing heavily in is tv ads. MPR has a story saying $1.6 million will be spent in the final push to the campaign. You can see the breakdown of the ad buys here.

The Star Tribune takes a look at the state budget and details where the candidates stand on it. They also ask how much?

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WCCO-TV’s Pat Kessler profiles Mike Hatch.

Bloomberg writes that the UnitedHealth scandal has become an issuein the race for governor.

Pawlenty also appeared at an event with the U.S. Agriculture Secretary in St. Cloud.

Hatch talks ag issues with Agrinews.

I-P candidate Peter Hutchinson talks health care to agrinews.

KARE-11 takes a look at Hutchinson’s latest ad.

The Minnesota Daily takes a look at the governor’s race.

Rachel Stassen-Berger, with the Pi Press, has a nice profile of Robert Fitzgerald, the I-P candidate for U.S. Senate.

Mark Kennedy campaigned in Marshall says the Marshall Independent.

The Hartford Courant mentions Democrat Amy Klobuchar in a story about Democratic fundraising.

First Lady Laura Bush is in town today to campaign for GOP Congressman Gil Gutknecht and GOP congressional candidate Michele Bachmann.

MPR’s Mark Zdechlik has an excellent profile on the contest between Gutknecht and DFLer Tim Walz.

The Star Tribune has a story on a debate between the candidates.

The Star Tribune endorses Keith Ellison for Congress in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. The GOP and I-P groan. I-P candidate Tammy Lee is critical of an ad being run by the Council for American Islamic Relations in this Star Tribune story.

Roll Call reports that Michigan Congressman John Conyers held a fundraiser for Ellison.

Forum Communications has a story on the candidates for attorney general.

And finally, the Polinaut hero of the day.