The Daily Digest: 10-9-08

People are worried about their retirement savings as the Dow fell for the 6th straight day.

That could make things difficult for school districts seeking a tax hike and a sales tax increase for the outdoors/arts. A new poll says the public is split on the ballot question. The poll also finds high marks for Gov. Pawlenty and DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

2008 Race for President

Rasmussen has Obama up seven points in its latest poll.

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Barack Obama rejects John McCain's plan for the government to buy mortgages. McCain reshuffled the plan from Tuesday's debate.

The NRA officially backs McCain.

The GOP keeps up the "Barack Hussein Obama" line.

McCain outspent Obama in ad buys only in Minnesota and Iowa. The Wisconsin Advertising Project ran the study and found that all of McCain's ads are negative.

McCain campaigns in Wisconsin today and tomorrow morning. He's in Minnesota for a town hall tomorrow afternoon.

A son of a Democratic lawmaker is indicted for hacking into Sarah Palin's e-mail.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar will attend this weekend's Oprah fundraiser for Obama.

2008 Race for U.S. Senate

The Rasmussen Poll shows DFLer Al Franken with a lead over GOP Sen. Norm Coleman.

Coleman and Franken differ on retirement savings.

Coleman campaigned in Mankato.

If the suit fits... GOP Sen. Norm Coleman's campaign manager repeatedly refuses to answer questions on whether a Coleman financial backer bought the senator suits.

Coleman's daughter makes a repeat appearance in a new ad. She was featured in an ad 6 years ago.

The Minnesota Independent reports that Coleman took money from Tom Petters (as did plenty of Democrats). DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar and DFLer Elwyn Tinklenberg reportedly gave the contribution to charity.

The candidates meet in their second debate on Saturday.

Democrats are driving for 60 Senate seats.

2008 Race for Congress

A KSTP/Survey USA poll has DFLer Ashwin Madia leading Republican Erik Paulsen.

A health care group starts running an ad ripping Paulsen.

The Star Tribune profiles the race in Minnesota's 6th District.

Ads are up in the 6th. GOP Rep. Michele Bachman started running ads yesterday (her ad isn't on her YouTube site yet but is called "Standing up for Minnesota"). It uses video from her 2006 campaign. The DFL leaning Alliance for a Better Minnesota runs an ad ripping Bachmann.

The conservative blog, North Star Liberty, reports that Bachmann and conservative radio host Jason Lewis express concern about McCain toeing the conservative line.

DFLer Tim Walz has $1 million for his campaign. His Republican opponent, Brian Davis, reportedly has a new ad out. KEYC says the candidates in the 1st go negative.

The Rochester Post-Bulletin writes about the endorsements in the 1st.

Forum Communications says there's an ag dispute between the candidates in the 7th District.

A new CNN poll says the bailout bill may be taking a toll on Congressional Democrats.

Stu Rothenberg predicts, however, that Democrats will pick up seats.

2008 Race Other

The New York Times says tens of thousands of eligible voters have been purged from voter rolls. Many states appear to be violating federal law.

Gov. Pawlenty raised money for a GOP candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania.