Archive for February 2007
Edwards Support in Wisconsin at Half 2004 Level
The first public opinion poll measuring support for 2008 presidential candidates in Wisconsin was released this week by Strategic Vision—a Republican research firm. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton was the favorite of 36 percent of the 800 likely…
Read MoreGlobal Warming Acknowledged in Upper Midwest
Al Gore’s involvement in the documentary An Inconvenient Truth has paid great dividends for the former Vice President—garnering near universal acclaim, and a new platform for the man many in Democratic circles hope to run for President in 2008….
Read MoreTom Vilsack Ends Presidential Run
Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack ended his bid for the 2008 Democratic Party presidential nomination today, citing difficulties in raising enough money to launch a viable campaign. Vilsack was the first democrat to officially enter the race last November….
Read MoreSouth Dakota Abortion Policy Update
One week after the South Dakota House of Representatives easily passed a bill banning most abortions in the state, a similar abortion ban bill died in committee in the state Senate. The House recently passed a ban outlawing all…
Read MoreIA, MN, and WI Share Identical View of Bush’s Job Performance
Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin will likely remain prized battleground states in the 2008 Presidential election, as they were previously in 2004 and 2000. And while there is still at least a trace of purple in each, these three Upper Midwestern…
Read MoreJoe Lieberman, Religion, and Iraq
Lost in the headlines of the Democratic Senate’s failed attempt last weekend to bust a GOP filibuster to force a floor debate and resolution vote on President George W. Bush’s surge in American forces in Iraq is that one…
Read MoreUpper Midwest House Delegation Votes 16-6 in Support of Iraq War Resolution
On Friday the U.S. House vote 246-182 for a resolution disapproving of the decision of the President announced on January 10, 2007 to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq. The non-binding measure had near unanimous…
Read MoreIowa State Senate Passes Resolution Opposing Iraq Surge in Troops
Yesterday the Democratic-lead Iowa State Senate adopted a Resolution opposing the commitment of additional American troops to the war in Iraq. The resolution was sponsored by 28 of the 30 Democratic senators in the chamber and states: “That the Iowa…
Read MoreFranken Announces Senate Candidacy; Starts 22 Points in the Hole
On Wednesday Al Franken officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate—aiming to become the DLF nominee to challenge 1-term Minnesota Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in 2008. As discussed in a February 2, 2007 Smart Politics entry, Franken will…
Read MoreTim Walz Plays Hardball…and Goes Hitless
On Tuesday afternoon rookie Minnesota Congressman Tim Walz (MN-01) was interviewed by Chris Matthews on MSNBC’s political show Hardball. Earlier in the day Walz had spoken multiple times on the floor of the U.S. House supporting a Democrat-backed resolution…
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