Posts by Dr. Eric Ostermeier
Inside Tim Pawlenty’s Uniquely Polarizing Job Approval Numbers
Pawlenty one of only a few governors nationwide to notch both large pools of staunch supporters and detractors in his constituency
Read MoreRoxanne Conlin Poised to Hold Iowa U.S. Senate, Gubernatorial Records
Conlin is only the second female major party candidate to appear on a U.S. Senate general election ballot in Iowa and the 9th woman overall
Read MoreAnti Illegal Immigration Sentiment Strong in Minnesota, though Weaker than Most of the Nation
Arizona immigration law enjoys majority support in Minnesota, though lower than most states
Read MoreWill Minnesotans Elect a Plurality-Winning Governor for a 4th Straight Cycle?
Only one other state has elected plurality-winning governors into office four times in a row since World War II (Alaska); Minnesota has not done so in 114 years
Read MoreThat Was Then, This Is Now: What (Political) Life Looked Like the Last Time Minnesota Elected a DFLer Governor
Do you remember when the cost of a postage stamp was 22 cents?
Read MoreDo Higher Minimum Wage Laws Contribute to Increased Unemployment?
States with a higher minimum wage than the federal $7.25 requirement have an average 2-point higher unemployment rate than the rest of the country
Read MoreIs Military Experience No Longer Valued in Minnesota Gubernatorial Elections?
Prior to Tim Pawlenty, 10 of the previous 14 Minnesota governors had military service; Minnesotans elected veterans in 16 of 19 gubernatorial elections from 1944-1998
Read MoreU.S. Military Service in the U.S. House of Representatives
GOP caucus has 60 percent higher rate of service than Democratic caucus; 17 state delegations have no members with military background
Read MoreVeterans in U.S. House Voted 55-37 Against Repeal of Ban on Gays in Military
1 out of 5 Democratic veterans voted against the repeal, including 2 out of 5 Blue Dog veterans; 19 out of 20 GOP veterans opposed amendment
Read MoreOut with the Old and In with the Older: Ex-Governors Have Historically Good Odds in Comeback Bids
Former governors have won 63 percent of open races in comeback campaigns and 57 percent overall since WWII; five ex-governors to be on the ballot in 2010
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