Tag Archive for 'Ashwin Madia'

Madia Opens Law Firm

by Zack Stephenson | 8 Comments

Ashwin Madia, the 2008 DFL endorsed candidate for Congress in the 3rd District, has opened his own law office:

Dear Friends,

I am excited to inform you that I am starting a new business venture, Madia Law LLC – a dynamic and aggressive law firm that will serve Minnesota’s consumers, small businesses, and immigrant communities…

…Madia Law will focus on consumer law, business litigation, and immigration law. Consumers have been defrauded by powerful interests with alarming regularity in recent times and I want to use law to help even the odds. Small businesses often need strong representation on a variety of issues but can’t afford massive litigation costs – I want to help. Finally, Madia Law will seek to represent underserved immigrant communities that need legal assistance in navigating complex immigration laws.

More information is available at the firm’s website. Best of luck to Ash in his new endeavor.

May 13, 2009, 12:36 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: .

Gavin Sullivan: Madia Won’t Run Again

by Zack Stephenson | 15 Comments

Gavin Sullivan has a pretty good scoop today.  Ashwin Madia, the DFL nominee in CD3 last time around, will not run again.  Here’s Madia’s response to Sullivan’s question:

‘I want to run again for office, and I want to win next time. However, for a number of reasons, I don’t think that I’ll be running for Congress in 2010. I had a good shot at it, I gave it everything I had - as did my team - and I came up short. While, in retrospect, I think I made some mistakes that I’ll correct the next time I run, I think somebody else should run against Paulsen in 2010 - and beat him.’

Despite the fact that he lost, I came away from the 2008 elections impressed with Ashwin Madia. His upset of Terri Bonoff in the endorsement race was simply stunning. Say what you will about the tactical choices his campaign made in the general election, but no one can argue that Madia didn’t work his ass off to win that race. I am glad he plans to run for office in the future. I hope he starts out a little further down the food chain next time. I think Madia would be a fantastic addition to the state legislature.

February 9, 2009, 8:53 am | Category: CD3 | Tags: .

New KSTP/SUSA Polls Even More Laughable Than Before

by Aaron Landry | 7 Comments

KSTP just aired their exclusive SUSA poll, which of course in the past has been a fantastic display of polling incompetency in Minnesota. This is what they published tonight:

CD6: Bachmann 46, Tinklenberg 45, Anderson 6
CD3: Paulsen 46, Madia 41, Dillon 10
Sen: Coleman 44, Franken 39, Barkley 16
Pres: Obama 49, McCain 46, Other 3

Regular MNpublius readers have seen a lot of polls and SUSA has always been the right-wing outlier. One reason is that SurveyUSA only polls people it knows are likely voters. The problem with that, is that in 2004 for example, over 20% of the electorate voted with the same day registration process. If there is a remotely similar situation this Tuesday, be mindful that SUSA would have not polled any of those people.

Another way to look at this is to compare KSTP/SUSA to other polls. Here’s FiveThirtyEight’s breakdown of recent polls on the presidential race in Minnesota:

So when Survey USA and KSTP say that Obama is only leading by 3, how far off might their polling for Senate, CD3 and CD6?

If you’re interested, dig into the crosstabs: CD3, CD6, Senate, President. Normally I consider the crosstabs are worthy of further analysis but I don’t feel like bothering digging into a throwaway poll.

UPDATE: Paul Demko at Minnesota Independent points to Nate Silver of The Plank and FiveThirtyEight:

Don’t worry too much about that SurveyUSA result in Minnesota, which shows Obama just 3 points ahead. SurveyUSA’s polling in Minnesota has been very, very weird all year; they’ve never shown Obama with larger than a 6 point lead in their likely voter model, and had McCain ahead in the state as recently as October 1st. SurveyUSA does not have a Republican lean in general, but in Minnesota, it has consistently had a huge one.

November 2, 2008, 11:52 pm | Category: CD3, CD6, MN 2008: Senate and White House '08 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

Erik Paulsen Rips Off TPT Footage, Gets Legal Action

by Aaron Landry | 11 Comments

As if the darkening of Ashwin Madia’s skin in a Republican ad wasn’t enough, Erik Paulsen refused to condemn it. On tape. In fact, he says he hasn’t watched TV since August and says he hasn’t even seen the ad. Erik Paulsen: have you really not seen the ads that are running involving your race? And you really don’t condemn it when your allies darken Madia’s skin in TV ads?

Talking about CD3 ads, I guess the campaign tailspin going on in Eden Prairie right now involves Team Paulsen using footage illegally:

In his most recent television campaign ad Paulsen uses footage of his opponent Ashwin Madia from a TPT show Almanac that aired earlier this month. This ad has appeared on local television outlets, Rep. Paulsen’s website and is posted on YouTube, TPT reports.

From a TPT press release (emphasis mine):

In previous campaigns, we have requested that candidates - Democrats, Independents and Republicans - cease use of similar material, and all have complied…Twin Cities Public Television has sent two formal requests to the Paulsen campaign to remove all TPT footage from their ad; as of today, that request has not been honored.We are therefore issuing this statement, taking appropriate legal action…

Way to go, Team Paulsen.

October 31, 2008, 10:11 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: , .

The Media on Republicans Altering Madia’s Skin Color

by Aaron Landry | 9 Comments

Two days ago, KARE 11 ran their story on how Republicans have darkened Ashwin Madia’s skin color in an ad attacking him. Now a lot of others are digging into this story more:

Daily Kos: MN-03: More Republican Ugliness

Star Tribune: Fun with Photoshop

City Pages: Paulsen campaign accused of darkening Madia’s skin in TV ad

Crooks and Liars: NRCC Darkens Ashwin Madia’s Face In Ads

Wall Street Jorunal: TV Ad Stirs Controversy in Minnesota House Race:

“It might be possible to dismiss these actions as a customary, yet unfortunate aspect of negative advertising,” said Eric S. Fought, associate communications director of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor party. But he said that he believed viewers would “know what Paulsen and his allies intended with darkening the images of Madia.” The Paulson campaign didn’t return calls.

October 31, 2008, 9:23 am | Category: CD3 | Tags: , .

KARE11: Anti-Madia Ad Shows Skin Color “Noticeably Darker Than Reality”

by Aaron Landry | 32 Comments

I cannot believe how shameful the Republicans have been this cycle. Watch the report yourself:

UPDATE: A release from the Minnesota DFL: 

Minnesota and national Republicans desperate to hold onto the state’s Third Congressional District seat have stooped to new lows.

A report on Twin Cities-based KARE-11 news this evening cites two independent sources who say that a new television ad from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) darkens the skin tone of DFL congressional candidate Ashwin Madia (MN-03), who is of Asian Indian American background.

KARE-11’s John Croman filed the report. The video is available here.

Professor Clay Steinman of Macalester College, who teaches about mass-media messaging and consumer responses, is featured in the story. Steinman said:

“Even if we think that we are not racist, people of all races, when confronted with images that are darker and different, have a kind of visceral, negative response.”

Croman also quoted Dean Alger, a political-advertising expert and media consultant, as saying:

“Distortions and exaggerations are a part of the game. But in his words, the darkening of the Democrat’s photos are beyond distortion and are what he calls a subtle effort to convey the message that Ashwin Madia is different.”

The NRCC’s response to Croman? “We stand by the ad.” (You may view the ad here. The three images that the NRCC doctored in their TV ad are available on the Madia campaign’s websitehere, here and here.)

KARE-11’s report tonight follows a press conference earlier this month at which Minnesota GOP officials declared that Madia did not fit the district from a “lifestyle” or “demographic standpoint” — or, in the words of Minnesota GOP Chairman Ron Carey, Madia is “not one of them.” The Star Tribune reported:

“Meanwhile, a Paulsen surrogate, state Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Minn., took the podium at a news conference last week to question Madia’s ties to the district because, among other things, he has not raised a family there or paid a mortgage or gone to a PTA meeting. State GOP chairman Ron Carey also recently urged voters to examine ‘the demographic standpoint’ of the candidates to determine which one to vote for.” [Star Tribune, 10/5/08]

You may view video of the GOP’s comments here.

October 29, 2008, 7:41 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: .

SUSA/KSTP CD3 Poll Weird As Ever

by Aaron Landry | 3 Comments

Regular readers of MNpublius and other poll watchers know that polls coming from Survey USA and KSTP have consistently leaned to the right. This time, the CD3 poll just got a bit weirder: they decided to change David Dillon to “Other.” While there are a number of ideas why they may have done this, it certainly makes the poll inconsistent compared to previous polls. Joe Bodell takes another look:

That is, SurveyUSA seems to think that the electorate on Tuesday is likely to be 34% Democrats, 32% Republicans, and 30% independent-with-a-small-i. Call me skeptical. Barack Obama at the top of the ticket is carrying heavy coattails going into next week, and the electorate is more likely to be closer to 40% self-identified Democrats than it is to be 34%.

The other number I have a hard time believing in light of all the other polling we’ve seen this year is that just 79% of self-identified Democrats are behind Madia. In an environment in which the Republican brand has been so drastically damaged by corruption, greed, and George W. Bush, Erik Paulsen’s “I’ll be a moderate” message just doesn’t ring true — because it’s not. Using SurveyUSA’s composition numbers, if Madia consolidates about 9% of those 19% SurveyUSA thinks are behind Paulsen or “other”, that would be a nice margin of victory for Madia.

Point being, even though it is a weird poll, Survey USA may have said something that’s likely correct:

The contest is a jump ball at this hour.

In the last few days here, people really need to know who Ashwin Madia (and Erik Paulsen) are and you can help: Contribute, Volunteer.

October 29, 2008, 9:20 am | Category: CD3 | Tags: , .

Avista Capital Partners Endorsements For CD3, CD6

by Aaron Landry | 9 Comments

Even though I’ve been heavily cynical about the Star Tribune, I did want to note about their endorsements for tomorrow’s paper. David Brauer points out:

In the Sixth, editorialists avoid nuclear outrage by picking Tinklenberg. They weigh in for the first time on you-know-what; Bachmann’s “anti-America” paradigm “adds to the list of bizarre incidents and statements that undercut her credibility as a political leader.”

Even though the Star Tribune has gone far to the right, nobody in their right mind can endorse Bachmann. Interesting though, is that they absolutely destroy Erik Paulsen but cannot bring themselves to endorse Madia so they opt for a “non-endorsement“ instead:

But Paulsen’s endorsement interview was disappointing. His answers on energy, health care and foreign policy lacked depth, detail and vision. Paulsen performed better at debates, but did not make the case that he has the depth needed to be a strong, independent leader in Congress.

Paulsen was a fiscal and social conservative in the Legislature, voting for measures that this newspaper opposed. Why he’s casting himself as a moderate in this race is unclear. His conservative credentials are solid; he should have run on them.

Paulsen is farther right than the Star Tribune and they’re criticizing him for not running on his conservative credentials? They even point out how he’s trying to run as a moderate. While I am not at all surprised by the Star Tribune not endorsing Madia, the fact that they trash Paulsen so badly is rather telling.

October 27, 2008, 9:29 pm | Category: CD3 and CD6 | Tags: , , , .

Did Ramstad Whisper a Madia Endorsement?

by Aaron Landry | 1 Comment

Paul Schmelzer notices Jim Ramstad in the National Review Online saying the election is “going to be a tsunami.” In regards to a large Democratic win in November, Ramstad is likely correct. Schmelzer reads further: (emphasis mine)

Ramstad: “Republicans need to get back to governing from the center. We Republicans need to get away from the addiction to base politics. Karl Rove’s playbook isn’t working anymore.”

That line could almost be perceived as an endorsement of the Democratic candidate in Ramstad’s 3rd Congressional District, where DFLer Ashwin Madia, a former Republican, is facing off against Erik Paulsen, who as a 14-year Minnesota legislator has consistently earned high scores from rightwing social conservative groups like Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, the Minnesota Family Council and the Taxpayer’s League of Minnesota. (Here’s Paulsen’s voting record.)

Not only is the Karl Rove playbook not working for Erik Paulsen, Schmelzer is correct to point out how absolutely unlike Ramstad Paulsen actually is.

October 27, 2008, 8:51 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: , , .

New Madia Ad

by Matt Martin | 9 Comments

Not sure how I missed this yesterday, but Madia has a new ad out (via MNCR):

October 25, 2008, 4:24 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: , .

Sound the Alarm! GOP Shifts Focus to 3rd; Spending Over $1 Million Through Election [Updated x2]

by Matt Martin | 13 Comments

You know how we just noted with much fanfare that the NRCC is pulling their ads out of the 6th? Well, turns out now is not time for celebration because they, and the rest of the GOP, is refocusing just south of the 6th in the 3rd. In other words, the GOP is throwing all their resources at the 3rd in order to buy this race.

[UPDATE 2: The MN GOP buy is not just $110K, it’s $250K. And now that I think about it, where is all the money Ramstad has in his campaign coffers? To the best of my knowledge he has around a half million that he can’t do much with now, where’s that going? Maybe with all this money Paulsen can afford to buy his first positive ad…]

Polinaut just broke the news that the MN GOP is buying $110K $250K in ads next week for Erik Paulsen… $110,000 $250,000!!  But wait, it gets worse, the NRCC has 5 buys (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) for over $390K from yesterday through 28th… $390,375!!!!!  But you’re saying, “well, at least they’re stopping shy of election day.”  Hold on, it gets worse!  Erik Paulsen’s campaign itself is chipping in a cool $275K for ad buys up to November 4th… $275,000!!!  Does your head hurt yet?  Just wait, it gets worse!  Between the 28th and the 4th of November, the RNCC, hold your breath for this one, is spending $305K over 5 different buys… $305,225!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (my head is exploding).

Without even factoring in the radio buys that the GOP and other Republican interest groups are running in the 3rd as we speak, the above brings the total for GOP major-player (sate party, NRCC, and Paulsen) ad buys to WELL over $1,000,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Republicans are trying to buy this race from us.  They’ve seen Madia working his butt off and they’ve been unable to sell Erik Paulsen on his record, so they’ve turned to the last ditch option the GOP always turns to: break out the big-bucks and attack, attack, attack!  They’ve said he isn’t “one of us” (and we all know what they means), they’ve called him a traitor because of his “Discipline” ad, and Erik Paulsen even calls him a liar in all his TV ads (which, I might add, got a D rating by KSTP).

This race is in our grasp, but we can’t lie down and let the GOP swoop in and steal this one from us so close to the finish line.  Ashwin is being out-spent in this race now and he needs our help. Help Ash fight back!  Help us turn this red district blue!  Help us beat these faceless GOP forces!  Donate.  If there was ever a time, it’s now.

Added by Sean: I bumped this over Zack’s post because it deserves to be.

Added by Matt: I bumped this over Aaron’s post about the new Franken ads (they are really awesome though).

October 23, 2008, 2:18 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: , .

KSTP Gives Erik Paulsen a “D” on Honesty

by Aaron Landry | 10 Comments

MNpublius exposed the dishonesty of Paulsen’s latest ad before, but KSTP takes it even further:

View some of the source material yourself:

Erik Paulsen Ad: “Disturbing,” October 18, 2008
SD 42/43 Meeting, November 28, 2007
Brooklyn Park Candidate Forum, January 12, 2008

It’s a pretty rough situation when KSTP destroys an ad from a right-wing candidate. With Madia taking the high road, I’m not sure how Paulsen’s campaign can go up from here.

October 22, 2008, 7:18 am | Category: CD3 | Tags: , .

Erik Paulsen Lying Again During KSTP Debate

by Aaron Landry | 8 Comments

Erik Paulsen continued to spew his “inflammatory and misleading” arguments about taxes in the KSTP CD3 debate last night. He also has been intentionally mischaracterizing Ashwin Madia’s positions in a disgusting manner. Here’s one example:

Here’s all the original source material so you can see for yourself:
KSTP Debate: October 18, 2008
Erik Paulsen Ad: “Disturbing,” October 18, 2008
SD 42/43 Meeting, November 28, 2007

There’s many more examples as well.

By the way, I recommend watching the entire debate. It was a fantastic, positive performance by Ashwin Madia and wish that everyone in CD3 gets to see it. I haven’t been able to find it hosted on KSTP’s site, so let me know where it is and I’ll link to it. If they don’t post it, I will. (thank you commenter “berenike” for the KSTP URL)

October 18, 2008, 1:41 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: , .

VoteVets Slams Paulsen and Kline for Shameless Attack

by Aaron Landry | 16 Comments

Not surprised by this at all. Erik Paulsen and the MNGOP drag John Kline into their nasty attack campaign, then veterans come back to defend Ashwin Madia:

IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETS BLAST ERIK PAULSEN FOR ATTACKS ON MADIA

WASHINGTON – The largest group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, VoteVets.org, today blasted Erik Paulsen for hiding behind a Congressman to launch smears against Marine and war veteran Ashwin Madia.

This week, Congressman John Kline hurled a smear – accusing Madia of “exploiting” Marines in a new campaign ad, which uses widely available stock footage of Marines to visually reinforce Madia’s service.  Kline is from another Congressional district, while Madia’s opponent, Paulsen, never served in the military.

“Shame on Erik Paulsen for using others to hurl baseless smears against an honorable war veteran, and not having the guts to do it on his own,” said Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org.  “Ashwin has every right to be proud of his service to the Marines, and hold that experience close to his heart.   And, he has every right to highlight for voters how that experience has shaped his views and values.”

“If Erik Paulsen has a problem with Ashwin’s service to the Marines and to America, then he should be man enough to say it himself.  And, if he can’t do that, people need to ask whether or not Erik Paulsen is strong enough to talk straight with his constituents,” Soltz added.

VoteVets.org PAC’s primary goal is to help elect those Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans running for public office, and defeat those whose views and records are not in line with the best interest of veterans and troops.  The group has endorsed Ashwin Madia for Congress.

Oh snap.

October 15, 2008, 4:11 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: , , .

MNGOP Drags Kline Into Paulsen’s Disaster

by Aaron Landry | 14 Comments

When Ashwin Madia continues to stay positive in his latest ad, Team Paulsen/Brodkorb were probably scratching their heads as to how they could fight it. Why not attack his military service? Who better than former Marine John Kline? Funny that Kline over in CD2 will willingly try to bash the use of the military in Madia’s ad while Kline himself has no problem touting half of his own ad while in uniform. Way to go, John Kline.

Madia released a disciplined statement:

I am proud to have served in the Marines and in Iraq.  Once a Marine, always a Marine, and I am proud, and will always be proud, to stand by my fellow Marines.  Through my service in the Marines, I learned team work and discipline. We need more of that in Congress.  I am talking about those needs in my new ad and on the campaign trail. In these challenging times, Minnesotans are looking for leadership and vision from the people they send to Washington – the leadership and vision necessary to get our country back on track. I will continue to communicate my positive message of change to the people of the Third District.

Paulsen also seems to have zero problem putting people in uniform even on the front page of his website:

These people are shameless. Sure, Paulsen is desperate but it’s an especially bad move for John Kline by agreeing to step into this mess.

UPDATE: John Kline’s hypocrisy on this subject is a lot bigger than I thought.

October 14, 2008, 10:20 pm | Category: CD3 | Tags: , , .