The Daily Digest

The Campaign Finance Board will announce its findings today regarding a complaint against Democrat Margaret Anderson Kelliher's campaign for governor. Kelliher's campaign attorney and an attorney with the DFL Party met privately with the board on Tuesday to discuss an error the campaign made by directing donors to help pay for her use of a voter file. DFL Party officials and Kelliher's campaign said Kelliher's camp relied on bad info from the DFL.

A Fox 9 News/Rasmussen poll says Norm Coleman is the strong favorite for governor among Republicans. Mark Dayton is the favorite among Democrats but Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak is a close second.

Pat Anderson departs the race for governor. She said Norm Coleman's possible candidacy looms large. MPR, AP, the Pi Press, the Rochester Post-Bulletin, the Star Tribune and Forum Communications have stories.

Here's video of Anderson's announcement.

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Norm Coleman released a statement on Anderson's decision.

Meanwhile, Democrat Mark Dayton's name won't appear on caucus ballots.

All of the DFL candidates for governor will attend a forum featuring Native American issues in Bemidji on Thursday.

Many of the Democrats attended a debate in Alexandria over the weekend. Here's a good rundown of what was said.

The candidates for governor were polled on their health care positions.

Under the Dome

A budget committee will meet today to talk about the deficit and the possibility for the state to borrow to meet its cash flow needs.

A committee in the senate will hold a hearing to restore funding for GAMC.

Gov. Pawlenty is asking the Minnesota Supreme Court to take quick action on his appeal of a ruling that undermines his authority to cut the budget on his own.

The judge dismissed "the other"unallotment lawsuit.

A proposal in the Minnesota House would extend health insurance to the unemployed.

The median home price in the Twin Cities has dropped.

The Vikings distribute comments from two leaders in the MN House that were slanted to signal support for a new stadium.

MnSCU trustees go on the road to gather public input.

Congress

The Obama Administration will ask Congress for an additional $33 billion to fight the wars.

He will also try to recoup lost TARP funds with a fee on banks.

Obama will also address the House GOP.

Health insurers, like UnitedHealth Group, are quietly funding opposition to Obama's health care plan.

The Massachusetts Senate race has become a proxy on the health care bill.

A bomb blast kills a physics professor in Tehran.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar writes an op-ed saying she wants some TARP funds to help small business.

The Star Tribune does a story looking at the makeup of DFL Sen. Al Franken's office. And concludes that Minnesotans and non-Minnesotans working in his office.

GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen will host a job fair in February.

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann is rated as one of America's Top 100 conservatives.

Bachmann's appearance at a national Tea Party event is closed to the press (like most of the other portions of the event). The folks known to praise the constitution must have skipped to the Second Amendment.

Agriculture won't be spared from budget cuts. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

Peterson is also said to begin planning the overhaul of farm policy, which is due in 2012.

Special election

The MNGOP released a TV ad in support of Republican Mike Parry. A spokesman wouldn't say where the ad is running, how long it will run and the size of the buy.

Pawlenty for Prez Watch

Gov. Pawlenty is headed to Texas today to raise money for his PAC. MPR and the Star Tribune have stories.

Pawlenty accepts a speaking appearance at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference.

Finally

A strong earthquake hammers Haiti.