The Daily Digest: 11-10-06
Go Deeper.
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It's been a while since I've done the digest. Partly because I've been reporting for the radio and the website. Has anything happened in the last couple of days. Holy cow, Rutgers beat Louisville in football! That's big news. Oh yeah, this is a political blog. So there's a bit of news there as well.
The Democrats took the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, the Minnesota House, extended their majority in the Minnesota Senate and won every state constitutional office position sans one (well two if you count the Lieutenant Governor). A Senate Majority Leader goes down even though Democrats are winning all around him and the next Senate Majority Leader is a critic of Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty. Wha happen?
U.S. Senate
Democrat Amy Klobuchar cruises to victory over Republican Mark Kennedy. The Star Tribune has a story on the day after her victory. MPR had her in the studio yesterday. Guess what? She's also in the majority. Kennedy says he's not bitter.
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Republican Senator Norm Coleman is in the minority. The AP says it could be an opportunity for him.
Governor
Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty squeaked by Democrat Mike Hatch. He may be the only Republican left standing on a night that fairly many Republicans got knocked down by the Democratic wave.
Pawlenty held a news conference on Thursday saying he was willing to work with Democrats. MPR and the Pi Press cover that angle. AP takes a look at the fact that he said Minnesota will get his full attention. Why? Because some are going crazy over a McCain/Pawlenty presidential ticket in 2008.
The Star Tribune had a story earlier this week suggesting Pawlenty's stock is rising nationally but the AP says he's weaker at home.
Ok, typically we move to the Congressional candidates but the news is the news and incoming Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller and Pawlenty will be in plenty of stories over the next four years (maybe two but let's say four).
Legislature
Senate Democrats selected Pogemiller to lead their caucus. House Democrats also unanimously endorsed Margaret Anderson Kelliher as the next speaker of the Minnesota House. Tony Sertich of Chisholm will be the next House Majority Leader. MPR, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press, Forum Communications, ECM Publishers and the AP have a look at the Senate Majority Leader. I also attached an enlightening profile of Pogemiller that the AP did a few years ago.
You want to know what happened to the old Senate Majority Leader. Well, Dean Johnson of Willmar lost his reelection bid to Republican Joe Gimse. The Minnesota Family Council and Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life spent a whole lot of money knocking off Johnson.
Gimse says the day after his election has been a terrific day. My advice, relish it because you're probably not going to get a bill heard this year. You probably won't get anything in the bonding bill either. Don't believe me? The West Central Tribune says it as well.
Democrats in the House take a moderate approach and vow to work in a bipartisan fashion. MPR, the Star Tribune, the AP and the Pi Press have stories. The Pi Press graph at the bottom is the most startling thing.
The Star Tribune also has a profile of Kelliher.
The St. Cloud Times says St. Cloud is purple and The Rochester Post Bulletin says Rochester moves left.
The iron range gets a whole lot of clout says the Star Tribune, the Duluth News Tribune and the Mesabi Daily News.
DFL Senator Gary Kubly complains that there isn't enough rural leadership in the Senate.
Republican Representative Marty Seifert says he's running for House Minority Leader...
He'll square off against Steve Smith of Mound and possibly Erik Paulsen (he didn't return calls to MPR).
As of 3 pm, Senate Republicans were still voting on their choice. Dick Day says he doesn't want the job anymore. Betsy Wergin of Princeton, David Hann of Eden Prairie, Warren Limmer of Maple Grove, Chris Gerlach of Apple Valley and Dave Senjem of Rochester. Apparently Geoff Michel of Edina and Julianne Ortmann of Chanhassen didn't want the job. I think that's everyone in the caucus, isn't it? That was a joke.
Congress
The make-up of Minnesota's Congressional delegation is now 5 to 3. The Star Tribune says it's a more diversified congress
First
Democrat Tim Walz says his defeat of GOP incumbent Gil Gutknecht was won on views and timing.
Oh yeah, Iraq too.
He's now riding the wave says the Rochester Post Bulletin.
MPR had him on Midday here.
2nd
GOP Congressman John Kline cruised to an easy election victory over Democrat Coleen Rowley. Apparently, Rowley says she didn't have that "prom queen appeal."
5th
Keith Ellison cruises to victory. He's the first African American Congressman in Minnesota history and the first Muslim ever elected to Congress. The Star Tribune says he's been besieged with fame overnight.
He's in Slate and the New York Times.
You can also listen to Ellison on MPR's Midmorning program here.
6th
Republican Michele Bachmann defeated Democrat Patty Wetterling in the most expensive Congressional race in the state's history says the Star Tribune. Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten writes that Bachmann is now reveling in family. But guess what? She'll be in the minority.
MPR had Bachmann on briefly on Wednesday but its was problematic because we had phone problems. I think it's at the end of this show.
7th
DFL Congressman Collin Peterson cruises to victory and will now be House Ag chair says MPR, KPLC and the Fergus Falls Daily Journal.
8th
DFL Congressman Jim Oberstar also won easily and will be House Transportation Chair. The Duluth News Tribune and MPR have stories. They're calling Peterson, Oberstar and Wisconsin Congressman David Obey "The Northwood Triumverate."
Other constitutional offices.
The Star Tribune has a story on the other constitutional officers who won on election day.
Transportation Amendment
The Strib and MPR have stories on its passage.
But some say it's just a drop in the bucket and won?t pay for it all. MPR says some state lawmakers are talking gas tax.
The Star Tribune says others are already spending the money
The rest
South Dakota rejects the abortion ban.
Some school funding measure goes down says the Star Tribune.
And finally, a guy won a race that he didn't even know he was running in says the Brainerd Post Dispatch.
