The Daily Digest (Obama tries to reconnect, Bachmann worth $912k and NFIB charges for Cravaack event in Duluth)
President Obama visited Cannon Falls, MN yesterday to kick off his three-day, three state bus tour. The president used the trip to urge voters to tell Congress to start working to pass legislation that will help the economy.
MPR says Obama is using the bus trip to kick off his reelection campaign. The effort is meant to humanize a president who has low approval ratings while demonizing Congress for the political gridlock in Washington D.C.
You can listen to Obama's opening comments here.
President Obama will meet with farmers and business owners on the second day of his tour.
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Republicans held a rally outside of Obama's town hall to demand to know "Where are the jobs?"
Race for President
GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann campaigns in South Carolina today.
Politico reports Bachmann didn't attend a family reunion that she cited as a reason for being late to a fundraiser in Waterloo.
Bachmann also listed a farm in Wisconsin as a source of income even though she said she and her husband didn't own it. She was criticized in the past for taking federal farm subsidies.
Bachmann's economic disclosure statement says she's worth at least $912k.
Roll Call says Minnesota's Congressional delegation is not rushing to back Bachmann. GOP Rep. John Kline and GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen were backing Pawlenty. GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack is undecided.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke's efforts to stabilize the economy are "treacherous and treasonous." He also said they would treat Bernanke "pretty ugly" down in Texas. Several Republicans called the comments inappropriate.
Perry is also taking his first jabs at Mitt Romney.
Romney touted his business experience during an event in New Hampshire.
Politico's Roger Simon says the media is unfairly ignoring Texas Rep. Ron Paul's campaign.
Ron Paul released an ad swatting at Perry, Bachmann, Obama and Romney.
Under the Dome
The disappearance of the Market Value Homestead Credit could raise property taxes.
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman proposes a 6.5% increase in the property tax levy.
The bridge construction in Hastings is delayed a year because of the government shutdown.
Congress
A soldier from Fosston, MN was killed in Afghanistan.
CBS News is reporting that the Pentagon is looking at the military's retirement system as a cost savings measure.
Politico is reporting that GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack is
taking heat for charging $10 per person meeting in Duluth.
Update:The NFIB is charging for the event. Cravaack's spokesman, Michael Bars, won't say whether Cravaack will insist that the event be open to the public.
DFL Sen. Al Franken will spend part of his day in Eden Prairie and Carver County.
Race for U.S. Senate
GOP political consultant Vin Weber says Pawlenty will be back in politics but it won't be to challenge DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Final Thought
The oldest survivor of the Bataan Death March died at 105.
Tidbits
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