The Daily Digest: 9-3-08
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin leads the Digest this morning.
Politico says there is a one in three chance that John McCain won't live until he's 80 (the end of his second term). That's why the examination of Sarah Palin is important.
Palin gives the most important speech of her life tonight and it won't matter what the delegates say inside the Xcel Energy Center. What matters is what people (the general public) outside the hall think about her. She took an early morning tour of the convention stage.
In a bombshell, the Washington Post reports that Palin "was not subjected to a lengthy in-person background interview with the head of Sen. John McCain's vice presidential vetting team until last Wednesday in Arizona..." The paper also reports that the pick was between Palin and Pawlenty.
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The GOP is tightening Palin's image as she prepares for her speech.
McCain says Palin was thoroughly vetted.
Bloomberg and Politico say McCain pushes back on what he used to consider as his old base (the press).
Newsweek says Bush aides will tutor Palin.
Barack Obama's campaign called McCain's choice of Palin as a "transparent moment."
Did Palin attend an Alaska Independence Party's 1994 convention where they discussed secession? The party chair says Palin was not a member.
The GOP fires back saying Palin critics are elitists or sexists.
Newsweek also picks up on comments Palin made about playing the gender card regarding Hillary Clinton.
Politico says Palin has reignited the culture wars and Jewish voters may be wary of her as VP.
She'll also have to face questions later this month on troopergate.
The Wall Street Journal says Palin is a big gamble for religious conservatives.
Palin also slashed funding for teen moms as governor.
WCCO Reality Checks where Palin stood on earmarks.
Pawlenty for VP Watch
It's back since some are wondering whether she'll drop or be dropped from the ticket.
The Star Tribune says Pawlenty is the party man with big plans.
John McCain
John McCain arrives in Minnesota today. He was scheduled to hold a rally in Peavey Plaza but that has been scrapped. He'll speak in the round tomorrow night when he accepts the nomination.
President Bush says McCain will win because of 9/11. He made the praise (and criticism of the "Angry left") from the White House.
Republicans say the distractions won't hurt the party.
Republicans hope to sway the Upper Midwest.
McCain's campaign manager says the election "is not about issues."
Other RNC
GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann give speeches to the convention.
Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman also addressed the convention.
Barack Obama
An Obama ad slams McCain on abortion rights. But Fred Thompson hits Obama on abortion at the convention.
Obama will appear on Fox tonight.
Obama hits 50% in the Gallup Poll.
Ron Paul
Ron Paul rallies his faithful.
Thousands attended the event.
Protests
Police use tear gas as protesters marched through the street last night. Ten arrests were made. MPR, the Star Tribune and the Pi Press have stories.
Some St. Paul business owners feel they aren't getting a fair shake.
Minnesota's delegation had its bus tires slashed.
2008 Race for Senate
The Washington Post says GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is bringing in oodles of cash during the convention. He's getting some help from Jeff Larson.
The DSCC starts running ad in which they dub Coleman the "running man."
Congress
DFL Rep. Keith Ellison says he spent his first year working on the U.S. image abroad.
2010
Stateline says the Republican Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association raise money at the conventions for 2010.