Monthly Archive for January, 2008

Breaking: Obama Sells Out Target Center in 24 Hours!

by Zack Stephenson | 38 Comments

Wow.

The Obama campaign released the details of the Illinois Senator’s trip to Minnesota 24 hours ago and as of right now, the Target Center - as in where the Timberwolves play - is completely sold out! Not just that, there is already a waiting list in excess of 2,000 people and that list is growing by the minute.

To put that in perspective, in 2004, 56,000 people caucused in Minnesota. This year, the DFL projects that between 70,000 and 75,000 will show up.

And just to be clear, the Obama campaign is using the whole arena - there will not be any Metrodome-style curtain covering up some seats.

Matt adds: Wikipedia puts the capacity for the Target Center for a Basketball game at 20,500 and 19,500 for a center stage concert. We’re hearing that the ticket count matches those capacity counts coming in to the tune of around 20,000. Not to mention the waiting list of over 2,000 people. Honestly, “staggering” doesn’t even described how absurdly large this showing is; much less a sell-out in under 24 hours.

UPDATE: A loyal reader of MN Publius reminds us that John Kerry held a rally in Minnesota 10 days before the general election and, in what was the biggest political rally in state history, attracted 35,000 people.  Obama has 20,000 in 24 hours and this is a contested primary.  Simply stunning.

January 31, 2008, 4:12 pm | Category: White House '08 | Tags: .

When in Doubt, Make Stuff Up!

by Sean Broom | 44 Comments

20040804-5_farm4-515h.jpgIn this morning’s Hibbing Daily Tribune Norm Coleman’s hack says:

“Tom Erickson, a spokesman for Coleman’s Senate campaign, called Franken’s attacks “distractions from his own flawed policies of tax increases, government-run health care and support for the anti-mining Sierra Club, whose endorsement Franken hopes to receive at a time when the Sierra Club is opposing four new mining projects” on the Iron Range.”

First of all, when is discussing the record of an incumbent a ‘distraction’? And secondly, when asked about the veracity of Erickson’s comment the Franken Camp had this to say.

Al does not advocate for “tax increases.”

Al’s health care plan does not involve the government “running” health care.

Al has never sought the endorsement of the Sierra Club and opposes the Sierra Club’s position on Iron Range mining.

I’m curious if we can count on Norm’s campaign making stuff up for the rest of this election. Let me think about it… hmmm… hmm… Yeah. Yeah we can.

January 31, 2008, 2:28 pm | Category: MN 2008: Senate | Tags: , .

MPR Poll Has NO Predictive Value Whatsoever

by Zack Stephenson | 13 Comments

Sorry to be harsh in the headline, but this is important to note. With regard to their caucus numbers, the MPR poll out today is fatally flawed for several reasons:

  1. It has no likely voter screen. This alone makes the poll worthless. Minnesota is a caucus state. Less than 20% of eligable voters will participate in the caucuses. Polling the general population is worthless because the general population is not voting in the caucuses.
  2. It didn’t include indpendants when determining the caucus numbers. Minnesota has an open system and no party registration. Independants and Republicans are free to caucus in the DFL caucuses.
  3. Its old. Its before Obama’s win in South Carolina. Its before the Ted Kennedy endorsement. Its before Clinton’s win in Florida. Its before Edwards departure. Its a political lifetime ago.

Whats more, Larry Jacobs of the Humphrey Center (who sponsored the poll) admitted its worthless:

Jacobs cautioned the poll is not a prediction of Tuesday night’s precinct caucuses. The interviews did not identify likely caucus participants. Gary Puffett of Minnetonka said he doesn’t plan to attend his caucus, but he supports John McCain.

MPR, the Star Tribune, the AP and any other media outlet that covers this poll with a headline like “Clinton leads Obama” is being totally irresponsible.

January 31, 2008, 12:46 pm | Category: White House '08 | Tags: .

What a Ridiculous Picture

by Matt Martin | 4 Comments

Mccainschwarzenegger
I sincerely don’t mean this as any sort of attack on John McCain, I simply couldn’t help but share the sheer ridiculousness of the banner picture on CNN Politics right now. I mean, honestly, who chose this picture of McCain? It looks like he’s so excited that he… well, I’ll let you decide.

PopeyeIn other news, with the consumption of his last can of spinach mid-afternoon on Thursday, John McCain’s transformation into Popeye the sailor man has been completed.

Okay, I’m done now.

January 31, 2008, 11:31 am | Category: White House '08 |

How to Caucus: The Video

by Matt Martin | 1 Comment

And now for this informational announcement from the Al Franken campaign:

Sean adds: I’m a caucus convener and I have to say that no matter who you’re supporting this video is a really great 7 minute primer on how to caucus. The process (espescially if you have an inexperienced convener/caucus chair) can be confusing and this video makes it easy for you as a first-time caucus goer or even a vet to know what to do. (Being a convener will also explain why I’ll be silent next Tuesday night and Matt and Zack will have to cover our results from afar — I’ll be doing the work of Democracy.)

January 31, 2008, 10:23 am | Category: MN 2008: Senate and White House '08 | Tags: .

Judgment Trumps Experience

by Matt Martin | 10 Comments

I was cruising through Presidential coverage this morning and noticed an article by one Robert Dallek. The reason it caught my eye is that Dallek is one of America’s preeminent Presidential historians (and a former professor of mine). I thought his analysis was interesting:

Ever since Edward Kennedy threw his support behind Sen. Barack Obama, there has been no shortage of comparisons between the junior senator from Illinois and the young President who inspired a generation.

As one who has spent many years studying JFK, let me make this much clear: When it comes to experience, Obama is no John Kennedy. (Indeed, when distilled into the crudest terms, Obama is no Dan Quayle - who was famously branded “no Jack Kennedy”; as of 1988, Quayle had spent more than a decade on the national stage.)

But here’s the much bigger question: What does it matter? An examination of Kennedy’s own record - and of the broader sweep of history - leads us to this critical conclusion: Obama’s lack of experience shouldn’t be considered a liability. Many of our most experienced Presidents have made disastrous choices. In the long life of the republic, judgment trumps experience, almost every time. [NY Daily News, 1/31/08]

A few quick reactions: I think that Obama’s experience, while perhaps not quite as thorough as JFK’s, is nothing to sneeze at. One only need look at his record in the Illinois State Legislature and Senate to see that this guy has the chops to get things done (not to mention Ted Kennedy’s endorsement). And let’s not forget that Obama has more foreign policy experience than either President Bush or Bill Clinton had going into office.

But, that being said, I think Dallek is right. We often overlook the more important characteristic of judgment for the more easily quantifiable element of experience but judgment is really what we need in a President, and what we should be searching for. A quick example: Obama’s consistent opposition to the War in Iraq from before the authorization resolution was passed to present day. Or, Dallek provides another example:

A look at other Presidents underlines the lesson. In the four years before the Civil War, James Buchanan led the nation. He had held so many high offices over the years that he was known as “Mr. Government.” It didn’t help him or the country a jot. Buchanan failed to head off the bloodshed that would soon engulf the country, and he is now remembered as one of, if not the worst, President in our history.

Inexperienced Abraham Lincoln was, happily, another story.

January 31, 2008, 9:24 am | Category: White House '08 | Tags: .

Info on the Barack Obama Event

by Sean Broom | 4 Comments

image001.jpgRALLY WITH BARACK OBAMA

Target Center
600 First Avenue N.
Minneapolis MN 55403

Doors Open: 1:30PM

The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. To RSVP for your free online ticket today please visit http://minnesota.barackobama.com/minneapolis or visit one of our ticket distribution locations listed below beginning Thursday, January 31st.

***For security reasons, bags are not allowed inside the event. Please limit personal items. No signs or banners are permitted.***

TICKET DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS.

Obama for America Minnesota State Headquarters
2233 University Ave W Suite 225
St. Paul, MN 55114
P:651-645-2008
Hours: 9AM to 10PM

Obama for America Minneapolis Office
212 N 3rd Avenue, Suite 340
Minneapolis, MN 55401
P: 651-528-9340
Hours: 9AM to 10PM

Obama for America Southeast Minnesota Office
2002 2nd Street SW, Suite 5
Rochester, MN 55902
P: 507-206-7941
Hours: 9AM to 10PM

Obama for America South Central Minnesota Office
505 Riverfront Ave.
Mankato, MN 56001
P: 813-465-4003
Hours: 9AM to 10PM

Obama for America Northeast Minnesota Office
126 W 1st Street
Duluth, MN 55802
P: 218-464-3895
Hours: 9AM to 10PM

Obama for America Central Minnesota Office
904 W. Germain Street
St. Cloud, MN 56301
P: 320-248-2335
Hours: 9AM to 10PM

Obama for America North Central Minnesota
15 Washington Street
Brainerd, MN 56401
P: 218-464-3896
Hours: 9AM to 10PM

University of Minnesota (Student Tickets)
Coffman Student Union
Fireplace Lounge
Minneapolis, MN 55455
P: 612-418-9936
Hours: 9AM to 10PM

January 30, 2008, 3:43 pm | Category: White House '08 | Tags: .

Just… Go… Away!

by Sean Broom | 10 Comments

picture1.jpg

January 30, 2008, 11:37 am | Category: General |

Thanks John

by Zack Stephenson | 9 Comments

I didn’t support you in 2004 and I didn’t support you in 2008, but thank you John Edwards for your contribution to American politics.

For the first time since LBJ, you made the eradication of poverty a major issue in the national debate. Your tireless advocacy for working people across the country is laudable and every progressive, even those who never supported your campaign, owes you a debt of gratitude.

Thanks John.

January 30, 2008, 10:32 am | Category: General |

Charlie is For Obama

by Zack Stephenson | 10 Comments

Dule Hill, best known for his work as Charlie on the West Wing, will campaign for Barack Obama in Minnesota today. Hill will be hitting college campuses across the state - part of the Obama campaign’s unprecedented college organizing efforts. Here is his schedule:

University of Minnesota Caucus for Change Event
Coffman Memorial Union
Fireside Lounge
300 Washington Avenue SE
Minneapolis
Program Begins: 10:45 AM

University of St. Thomas Caucus for Change Event
Murray-Herrick Center-Blue Lagoon
2115 Summit Avenue
St. Paul
Program Begins: 1:45 PM

North St. Paul High School Caucus Training
North St. Paul Community Center
2290 1st Street N
North St. Paul
Program Begins: 3:15 PM

Carleton College Caucus for Change Event
Burton Dining Hall
300 N College Street
Northfield
Program Begins: 5:15 PM

St. Olaf Caucus for Change Event
Fireside Lounge-Buntrock Commons
1520 St. Olaf Avenue
Northfield
Program Begins: 6:30 PM

January 30, 2008, 10:19 am | Category: White House '08 | Tags: .

Edwards Out?

by Sean Broom | 8 Comments

Just got a news report that Edwards was dropping out of the race.  More as this develops.

January 30, 2008, 9:43 am | Category: General |

$138 A Vote

by Sean Broom | 6 Comments

If as is widely speculated Rudy Giuliani drops out tonight, my heart will sink. I was really hoping to have that dirtbag as the Republican general election candidate. But I can always find the silver lining.

Rudy Giuliani raised about 47M dollars. According to CNN he got about 340,602 votes in all of the primaries so far.

In what can only be described as a newfound low in mediocrity, Rudy Giuliani spent about $138 a vote.

January 29, 2008, 10:30 pm | Category: General |

McCollum Stars in Ciresi Ad

by Zack Stephenson | 2 Comments

Here is the latest Ciresi ad:

I think this is a pretty good ad. McCollum is a good validator in a DFL endorsement battle.

January 29, 2008, 7:40 pm | Category: General |

Wow

by Zack Stephenson | 7 Comments
January 29, 2008, 5:39 pm | Category: General |

Blind Item

by Sean Broom | 29 Comments

sychophant-bachmann-bush.jpgIt’s the State Of The Union, which means that it’s our favorite time of the year at MNPublius — how creepy can Michelle Bachmann be?

As the State of the Union address loomed last week, Rep. … began to think about her strategy.

On Monday, the… Republican would meet with constituents… in the morning, then hop a flight to Washington, race over to the Capitol, prance down the halls, fly through the doors of the House chamber, elbow her way past like-minded colleagues and plant herself in an aisle seat, preferably in the center. There would be no time for small talk.

[This Representative] would then sit in the chamber for the rest of the day and wait for that priceless moment to come when President Bush would walk down the center aisle, give her a small embrace—and maybe even his classic wink—and the television networks would capture it all.

Who are we talking about? Quick! 3 guesses.

Drat. It’s not Michele Bachmann. It’s Scientology lovin’ Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. But — Representative Bachmann is mentioned in the same Politico article.

Squatters aim for presidential face time

… Ros-Lehtinen isn’t the only one who will be arriving fashionably early—and it’s a bipartisan group.
Other aisle seat stalkers include Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), Todd R. Platts (R-Pa.), Jean Schmidt ( R-Ohio), Mary Bono (R-Calif.), Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and a handful of others….

That is totally the best way I can think of spending an afternoon on the taxpayers dime!  Keep making us proud Representative Bachmann!

January 28, 2008, 3:35 pm | Category: General |