The Daily Digest (6th District race turning into a rumble, Calls to shutter St. Paul Crime Lab, Pawlenty sits out 2014)

The gloves are coming off in Minnesota's 6th District.

One day after Democrat Jim Graves ripped GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann for being AWOL after the Verso Paper Mill fire, Bachmann goes after Graves in her latest ad.

Bachmann and Graves are in a skirmish over debates. Bachmann agreed to three debates but Graves is calling for more.

The Star Tribune is calling the 6th District a "battleground."

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Under the Dome

There are calls for the St. Paul Crime Lab to shut down amid new doubts over the handling of evidence.

An audit found that the Arts Board could improve oversight of Legacy funds.

Frac Sand mining opponents are pushing for a three-year moratorium.

A farmer has been acquitted in the raw milk trial.

Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon will skydive with the Army on Tuesday. The group will land on the Capitol lawn.

Supporters of an effort to fix the Old Cedar Ave. Bridge in Bloomington are planning a rally on Saturday with the hopes of getting funding for the bridge in next year's bonding bill.

Economy

Weekly jobless claims fell slightly in the U.S.

Minnesota's job numbers ticked up slightly in July and August.

CNN says policies being pushed by the Federal Reserve favor the rich.

Middle East

There are renewed questions about the potency of Al Qaeda following the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Libya.

The U.S. plans a new inquiry on the attack in Libya.

President Obama says extremists are using the video as an excuse to attack.

The Obama Administration is airing ads in Pakistan, condemning anti-Islam film.

Congress

AP says the tax penalty under President Obama's health care law will hit 6 million people.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and other mayors are warning that the impact from the fiscal cliff will harm cities across the country.

Lawmakers are clashing over the next steps after a report has been released on the Fast and Furious gun case.

The Washington Post says President Obama's overhaul of education largely leaves out Congress.

The House voted to change the Obama Administration's policy on welfare.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson was one of several Democrats who joined Republicans and vote for the change.

The Census Data shows that the nation's economy has bottomed out and is in a fragile recovery.

The U.S. is drawing down troops in Afghanistan.

A Senate panel says Microsoft and H-P used accounting strategies to hold down their tax bill.

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar is pushing for continued funding for drug courts.

Constitutional Amendment to ban Same-Sex Marriage

Earnings at General Mills were unhurt by the boycott.

The Vote No campaign released its second ad of the cycle.

Voter ID Amendment

AP says Voter ID laws are pushing black women to turn out the vote.

2014

Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he won't run for governor or the U.S. Senate in 2014. Pawlenty took a job to be a top banking lobbyist in Washington D.C.

Pawlenty's move leaves a big opening for Republican candidates in 2014. It also gives DFL Sen. Al Franken a financial advantage heading into the next cycle.

Race for President

Libertarian Gary Johnson will campaign at Macalester College today. He'll be joined by former Gov. Jesse Ventura, who is backing Johnson's campaign.

President Obama said at a Univision forum that "You can't change Washington from the inside. You can only change it from the outside."

Romney is criticizing Obama for saying he can't change Washington from the inside.

President Obama says immigration reform has been his biggest failure.

Obama mocked Romney on the '47% remarks.'

Romney picked up the pace on his campaign appearances.

The Boston Globe says Romney's father was on public assistance as a child.

The latest campaign report says President Obama has more campaign money than Romney.

Romney's FEC report showed a cash crunch before the RNC.

The New York Times says Romney is struggling to find new large donors.

Politico says Romney awarded bonuses to top aides after the RNC.

Gallup's Daily Tracking poll has the race tied at 47%.

Finally

Homer Simpson votes for Mitt Romney.