The Daily Digest: 6-6-08
Democrat Al Franken limps into this weekend's DFL endorsing convention with plenty of bipartisan criticism directed at him. His old comments continue to haunt him. MPR, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press, Forum Communications and AP have stories. Franken released this statement late last night:
"I'm proud of my career as a satirist, which doesn't mean every joke I've ever told was funny, or, indeed, appropriate. I understand and regret that people have been legitimately offended by some of the things I've written. In real life, though, I've been married for 32 years. Franni and I are proud of our son and daughter. I respect women -- in both my personal and professional life. And I will work incredibly hard to represent them in the Senate -- something Norm Coleman hasn't been doing for the last six years."
Coleman responded with this statement:
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"While Al Franken was joking about raping women and a host of other degrading and humiliating jokes throughout his career, I was in the Minnesota attorney general's office working to throw rapists behind bars. I was in the mayor's office working with advocates for battered women.''
The Huffington Post also interviews Franken (Don't read if you're in a rush since there's not much new in it).
Meanwhile, Mike Ciresi says all options are open.
One blog also says R.T. Rybak may be considering a Senate entry.
A spokesman for Rybak says it ain't happening.
ECM, MPR and the Rochester Post-Bulletin set up the endorsement fight between Franken and Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.
DNC Chair Howard Dean will address convention delegates today.
An anti-Coleman group starts an ad campaign linking GOP Sen. Norm Coleman with oil companies. The AP and the Star Tribune have stories.
Fox9 picks up on the Jesse Ventura for Senate story.
2008 Race for Congress
The Rochester Post-Bulletin picks up on a DFL commissioned poll in the 2nd that shows GOP Rep. John Kline with a big lead.
6th District DFL candidate El Tinklenberg attended a St. Cloud fundraiser last night.
Pawlenty for VP Watch
Pawlenty campaigned last night in Bloomington, IL. Stories here, here and here. The trip follows a visit to Atlanta earlier this week for the Republican Governors Association meetings.
Pawlenty will be on Fox News Sunday this weekend.
The Fix says Pawlenty is tops on the VP line.
The Fix also gave Gov. Pawlenty a smooch in this profile.
The Raleigh News and Observer has more info on Pawlenty's fundraising trip to North Carolina last week. Read it here and here.
The Hill says the prolonged fight among Democrats gave the GOP plenty of time to prepare. Pawlenty is mentioned.
The Phoenix Business Journal and the Arizona Capitol Times say Pawlenty is in a pool of candidates for VP.
The Wall Street Journal profiles Louisiana Gov. Bobbie Jindal.
State Government
Minnesota will lose public defenders due to budget cuts.
Winona's mayor hopes a ferry will ease their driving problems. Emergency responders can use the bridge.
DFL Rep. Tim Walz and DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar will visit the Winona bridge later today.
A judicial retirement sets up a rare contested judicial race.
The PUC decision is delayed on the Big Stone Power Plant proposal. MPR and the Star Tribune have stories.
Congress
DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is calling for the Department of Transportation to investigate the FAA.
Arizona Senator Janet Napolitano is worried about losing the ability to regulate surface water in their state. Oberstar is mentioned.
2008 RNC
St. Paul police will apologize to a war protester. They detained him for handing out leaflets at this week's Obama event. The Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.
2010
The Pi Press picks up on Tom Bakk's possible run for governor.