The Daily Digest: Dayton and Franken hold onto edge
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In Minnesota
DFL Gov. Mark Dayton has a seven point lead over Republican Jeff Johnson according to a Star Tribune poll. (Star Tribune)
The same poll shows DFL Sen. Al Franken with a nine point lead over Republican Mike McFadden. (Star Tribune)
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Franken and McFadden met for their second debate, which wound up being somewhat contentious. (MPR News)
The Washington Post profiled Franken's campaign and says he's in a strong position for re-election because he's shed his funny guy persona. (Washington Post)
The PoliGraph examines attacks ads made by a liberal group against McFadden. (MPR News)
Dayton is on the defensive about whether the Commerce Department correctly calculated the average rate hike on health plans offered through MNsure. (MPR News)
Dayton and Johnson agree that creating jobs is job No. 1 for the next governor. But they differ sharply on what a governor can or should do to shape the state's economy. (Pioneer Press)
Public affairs personnel representing the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine are pushing back on Johnson’s latest ad that states that if Dayton is re-elected, “PolyMet is dead.” (MPR News)
Transportation funding is a big issue in the 6th District congressional race. (St. Cloud Times)
A Liberian immigrant could be the next mayor of Minnesota's most diverse town. (MPR News)
National Politics
DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar told a crowd at a fundraising dinner in Iowa that she feels "at home" in the Hawkeye State. (Des Moines Register)
House Republican leaders are vowing to end governing by brinksmanship and better coordination with the Senate GOP as the party ramps up for the 2016 presidential elections. (Politico)
Many members of the Bush family are pushing former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to run for President in 2016. The big holdout? His mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush. (New York Times)
An 88 foot spruce tree from the Chippewa National Forest will be the official Christmas tree in front of the U.S. Capitol this year. (Pioneer Press)
Minnesota is batting well above average here: Two ads by Minnesota candidates made a list of the strangest political ads of 2014. (The Hill)