The Daily Digest
Campaign season is heating up which means I'm going to be busy. That means it's triage time when it comes to the Digest. In other words, we'll only be hitting on the major issues between now and Election Day.
Race for Governor
A new MPR/Humphrey Institute poll shows Democrat Mark Dayton with a solid lead over Republican Tom Emmer but two key factors can change the race. Support for the IP's Tom Horner is soft and one in five voters are still undecided.
An October surprise could also change the dynamics of the race. The MNGOP worked to manufacture that surprise by trying to link a DFL campaign mailer in a Minnesota Senate race to Dayton's children (who gave $250,000 each to the DFL Party). Dayton quickly denounced the lit piece. Republicans called the mailer anti-Catholic. DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez said the Dayton family had no idea about the lit piece until the issue was first raised. Melendez called the lit piece "a good ad."
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Last night, the candidates sat down for a "job interview' hosted by KARE and MPR. Forum Communications and the Pi Press have stories. You can listen to the full program at 9am on MPR's Midmorning.
All three candidates say they see little chance of increasing funding for higher ed.
Here's MPR's profile of Republican Tom Emmer.
The Star Tribune and WCCO write about the Sheriffs Deputy (Deputy Dave) in the MNForward ad and finds that he makes $63,000 a year, well short of being hit by Dayton's tax plan.
MinnPost says even small cuts in state aid will result in big problems for small cities and towns.
Dayton tells the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder that he hopes to earn the support of African American voters.
The PoliGraph says Emmer exaggerates the impact of a health provision.
Race for Congress
Midday will host a 6th District debate today at 11am.
DFL Rep. Tim Walz is leading Republican Randy Demmer in a poll by KAAL-TV. The poll also shows Republican Tom Emmer trailing Dayton in the 1st District.
Former GOP Gov. Al Quie is backing Demmer's campaign.
Walz rallied with veterans in Rochester.
Spending has hit new heights in the 8th District race between DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar and Republican Chip Cravaack.
GOP Rep. John Kline will campaign with Cravaack on Friday.
Cravaack's campaign says they will also do a 96 hour tour of the district this weekend.
Oberstar says Republicans are thwarting an important water bill.
The 7th District candidates debated the issues on Midday.
The candidates in Minnesota's 3rd met for the final debate.
The Star Tribune says Minnesota's Senators are campaigning at a hectic pace.
2010 Other
The candidates for State Auditor will debate the issues on Midday today.
The Pi Press takes a look at the Attorney General race.
Schools says levies are a matter of survival.
AP says national campaign talking points have spilled into the legislative races.
Under the Dome
Minnesota's inmate release rules get a second look.
Pawlenty for Prez Watch
Pawlenty is in Georgia and New Orleans today to attend private fundraisers for the Georgia Senatorial Trust and the RGA.
Democrats ask the Pentagon for information on Pawlenty and the other 2012 GOP candidates.