The Daily Digest (Dayton to talk early childhood, Bachmann on MTP and the narrative on Tpaw)

The Dow surged on Tuesday.

The Federal Reserve says it will keep interest rates near zero for the next two years.

The head of one of Minnesota's pension funds says the funds are weathering the stock sell off.

Under the Dome

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Gov. Dayton will speak before several education groups in the morning. He'll also hold a news conference on early childhood education.

AP says Minnesota squeezes counties for sexual predator costs.

Minneapolis says it will lay off some fire fighters but not as many as proposed earlier.

A group of Republican teachers will meet tonight to consider forming a GOP caucus.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Republicans hold off Democrats in the recall effort.

Constitutional Amendment to ban same sex marriage

The Minnesota Family Council starts ramping up efforts to pass the amendment.

Congress

President Obama salutes the Navy SEALs killed in the Afghanistan helicopter crash.

Obama calls for fuel standards for big vehicles.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid picks Max Baucus, Patty Murray and John Kerry to be on the deficit committee.

Republicans are using the downgrade in robo-calls against DFL Rep. Tim Walz.

The Pi Press says DFL Rep. Betty McCollum fielded concerns about President Obama's policies during a town hall event in St. Paul.

The Duluth News Tribune says GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack was challenged on his budget stance during a town hall in Deer River.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison will attend the White House Iftar tonight.

Race for President

President Obama will visit Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois next week.

The Iowa Tea Party founder is backing GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann.

The former Chair of the Iowa Family Leader is also backing Bachmann.

Bachmann will appear on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday.

Bachmann also promised "no teleprompters" if she's in the White House.

Tim Pawlenty joined Anti-abortion activists at an event in Iowa.

New York Times columnist Paul Krugman says Pawlenty is "Sarah Palin in a suit."

Politico says Pawlenty campaigns for attention in Iowa.

The L.A. Times and Politico both say Pawlenty needs a strong showing in Ames or his campaign will be finished.

The New York Times says Pawlenty is courting Evangelicals at a "make of a break moment."

Tidbit: Pawlenty is having a difficult time escaping the media narrative of win or bust. Expect him to work hard to distinguish himself at Thursday's debate. But the only real way he can escape the "struggling campaign" narrative will be to win the Straw Poll or come in a close second.

Pawlenty also polled behind Thad McCotter in Michigan.

Pawlenty points to Minnesota health law as a model for the U.S.

Pawlenty released an ad on the eve of the Straw Poll.

Pawlenty opted against attacking Rick Perry before Perry announces on Saturday.

Rick Perry added a Sunday Iowa stop. That means he'll campaign in South Carolina, New Hampshire and Iowa over the weekend.