The Daily Digest: 5-30-08

Minnesota's U.S. Senate race leads the Digest today. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman accepts the GOP Party nomination today with a unified party behind him. He says the race will be a tough one.

Well maybe Coleman's support isn't so unified.

AP says Coleman has to woo the far right. He may want to start with Jason Lewis, who is calling on the Club for Growth to run ads against Coleman.

Coleman also picked up the backing of police unions.

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Meanwhile, some Democrats are criticizing the leading Democrat in the race for his past. DFL Rep. Betty McCollum criticizes Al Franken over a Playboy article. McCollum was a Mike Ciresi supporter. The criticism by DFL Rep. Tim Walz is more shocking (since Franken did a lot of campaigning for Walz). AP and the Star Tribune have stories.

The Republicans hold their state Party Convention this weekend in Rochester. The Star Tribune says they have a lot of work to do.

The keynote speaker (Tom Coburn) warned of a pending fiscal calamity.

Ron Paul supporters want a voice at the GOP Convention.

The Rochester Post-Bulletin says the back to back conventions mean money for Rochester.

Legislature and State Government

Gov. Pawlenty vetoes a bill that freezes foreclosures.

Pawlenty also sets a record for vetoes. The Star Tribune and AP have stories.

He also took action on the remaining bills.

The governor says a special session for tornado relief is unlikely.

Leaders urge counties to ignore a slip-up in the Tax law.

The Central Corridor saga continues. The Pi Press says the route through campus looks rosier.

3 attorneys were appointed to a panel for the bridge victim's compensation fund.

MinnPost has post #2 on the attorney general's office.

Congress

Truckers want a standard speed limit of 65 mph. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is mentioned.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz toured the Hormel Institute.

MinnPost writes about a forum on Iran that was hosted by DFL Rep. Keith Ellison.

2008 Race for President

DFL U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is headed to Montana to campaign for Barack Obama.

The Fix moves Minnesota off of the battleground line.

2008 Race for Congress

MDE says 6th District DFLer Elwyn Tinklenberg was late to pay his taxes.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

The Economist says Pawlenty is on McCain's list.

GOP Sen. Joe Gimse says Pawlenty's chances of being VP have narrowed. Where does Sen. Gimse get this insider information?