The Daily Digest: 8-20-08

Welcome to the 2008 NFL draft where every expert offers insightful opinions on how certain picks will work well with a certain team.

Oh, wait we're talking VP stuff here.

Let's try this again....

Welcome to the 2008 Veepstakes where every expert offers insightful opinions on how certain picks will work with a certain team.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

The Veepstakes are at a fever pitch and it's making my head hurt. It's almost as much fun as reading all of those pre NFL draft stories speculating on who will go where.

I think Pawlenty will go to Ohio and Pennsylvania this weekend and Colorado next week (Ding Ding!) Note: For those who want some comedy relief from the Veepstakes - watch this video. It makes me laugh every time.

Pawlenty says he will head east to stump for McCain over the weekend.

He'll be in Dallas, PA on Saturday afternoon and in the Lehigh Valley on Saturday night.

Pawlenty to man the GOP war room in Denver.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will attend a GOP counter rally at the DNC.

Is McCain planning a VP surprise? That surprise could be Former PA Gov. Tom Ridge of CT Senator Joe Lieberman.

Ridge downplayed his pro-choice views raising speculation.

Lieberman's people say he's being vetted.

Talk of Ridge and Lieberman concerns conservatives.

Former Ohio Congressman Rob Portman will attend the GOP rally raising speculation that it's him.

A Reader's Digest blogger gives Pawlenty some love.

Meanwhile on the Democratic side,

CBS says the pick will come on Friday. They will also campaign together on Saturday.

Democrat Barack Obama uses "He" when referring to his VP.

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden says "I'm not the guy."

Someone drops some research on Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh.

Obama campaigns in Virginia raising questions that it's VA Gov. Tim Kaine.

AP takes a look at all of the VP front runners.

2008 Race for President

Republican John McCain has a five point lead over Barack Obama in the Reuters poll.

McCain visits an oil rig.

McCain gets a bump from the Saddleback Forum.

Barack Obama will talk jobs today in Virginia.

Obama's "Lost brother" has been found in Kenya.

2008 Race for Senate

The Crookston Times takes a look where Al Franken and Norm Coleman stand on Energy.

Franken says give veterans health care for life. AP and the Pi Press have stories.

Franken won't speak at the DNC. But he will raise money in Denver. He will also raise money in Massachusetts next month.

2008 Race for Congress

1st District Republican Dick Day attended an anti-immigration forum in Austin. The Austin Daily Herald and the Rochester Post-Bulletin have stories.

GOP Rep. John Kline and DFL challenger Steve Sarvi are talking energy on the campaign trail.

Kline also ripped earmarks in this op-ed.

The campaigns in the 3rd are complaining about push polling.

3rd District DFLer Ashwin Madia will attend the Asian Pacific American Power Hour at the Democratic National Convention on August 25.

State Government

The state to issue rules for graduation tests.

Congress

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar and DFL Rep. Tim Walz are a few of the leaders who want to fix Medicare. They attended a roundtable in Rochester.

Klobuchar and Walz also made a joint appearance in Albert Lea.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is in Ohio.

2008 RNC

Police presence will be beefed up during the RNC.

Attorneys prepare to defend protesters.

2008 DNC

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar will speak twice at the DNC Convention.

Al Gore is set to speak on Thursday night.

Mayo's CEO will speak at a roundtable in Denver.

Finally

Good-bye John Brandl.