Capitol View®

As the number of challenged ballots eclipses 3,500 (which continues to concern SOS Mark Ritchie), Norm Coleman’s attorney, Fritz Knaak, calls for a truce. “It has become apparent that both campaigns are engaged in a mounting game of ballot challenging that serves no useful purpose. This is not the way the recount process was intended…

President-elect Obama is scheduled to meet with a bipartisan group of governors in Philadelphia next Tuesday to talk about how the economic crisis is impacting states. Governor Pawlenty’s spokesman, Brian McClung, says Pawlenty will attend the meeting.

Gov. Pawlenty will talk health care policy at an event at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School. It could be a preview of his expectations for the upcoming legislative session. Here’s the info: Market-Based Reforms in Health Care: The Next Step? Tuesday, December 9, 2008 3:00pm – Conference 5:00pm – Reception Cowles Auditorium Hubert H.…

The attorney for Democrat Al Franken said today that he was growing more concerned about “missing ballots.” At a news conference, Marc Elias explained that “hundreds of ballots” have gone missing across the state. He also pointed to this picture that shows that there is still paper in a voting machine in Minneapolis. Elias said…

The counting continues. Both campaigns claim their opponent is making frivolous challenges. MPR and AP have stories. A run up in challenges is clouding the final vote tally. The Pi Press says Democrat Al Franken is not making expected gains in Minneapolis. The Pi Press takes a look at the saga of one absentee voter.…

MPR’s Midday will air live coverage of President-elect Barack Obama’s news conference at 11 AM Central.

It’s Recount Week (part 2). This week, county workers will continue recounting the votes in the U.S. Senate race. The State Canvassing Board will also meet on Wednesday to decide on Al Franken’s plea to consider rejected absentee ballots. Rejected absentees may decide the election. Some counties worked on Saturday but no one worked on…

NBC and The Hill report that President-elect Barack Obama may be considering DFL Rep. Collin Peterson for Ag Secretary. The Hill says one of the obstacles for Peterson may be real estate. Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District leans GOP: Peterson’s rural western Minnesota district has trended red in recent years and it went for President Bush…

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman will be certainly inundated with press during his visit to a power plant in Monticello, MN. That means his lead attorney, Fritz Knaak, won’t be holding a briefing today. The campaign sent out this message: “Knaak, Knaak” “Who’s there?” “Not Fritz, we’re giving the media a break today” Glad to see…

It’s the third day of the U.S. Senate recount and it appears that the fate of the challenged ballots will determine Minnesota’s next U.S. Senate. MPR, Forum Communications and AP have stories. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman visits an energy plant today in Monticello, MN. Franken is headed went to New York City last night to…