Posts by Dr. Eric Ostermeier
Third Parties: Minnesota Leads the Pace in US House Races
Minnesota’s historical success of placing third party candidates on the ballot usually begins and ends with Jesse Ventura. In a report released earlier this summer, the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance also showed Ventura’s legacy in sustaining…
Read MoreBlue Dog Democrats Well Represented in Upper Midwest
The Blue Dog Democrats, though a dying breed, have a fair-sized delegation from the Upper Midwest. The Blue Dog coalition (originally formed in 1995) is a group of 37 conservative and moderate democrats who are seen as serious players in…
Read MoreMN: Split Ticket Voting Revisited
The latest Minnesota polls show the DFL surging in the US Senate race and in a dead heat in the gubernatorial race. The prospects of split ticket voting in these races was discussed a few days ago here at Smart…
Read MoreWill Minnesotans Split Their Ticket in November?
Three polls released inside of the last two weeks by the Star Tribune, Humphrey Institute, and Minnesota Public Radio all show DFL US Senate candidate Amy Klobuchar with a significant, double-digit lead over GOP nominee Mark Kennedy. These three polls…
Read MoreWI Referendum: Definition of Marriage
In 2003, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle vetoed a bill that sought to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The Republican-led legislature then initiated a constitutional amendment process (which passed 19-14 in the state Senate on…
Read MoreMN Senate: New HHH Poll Also Finds Double-Digit Lead for Klobuchar
Excerpts from a report by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance on its new poll on the Minnesota race for U.S. Senate: The Democratic Party nominee for U.S. Senate, Amy Klobuchar, holds a commanding advantage over…
Read MoreMN Governor: Race Still a Toss-Up
Excerpts from a new report by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance on its new poll on the Minnesota Governor’s race: Governor Tim Pawlenty and Attorney General Mike Hatch are tied in what is shaping up…
Read MoreIA-1: Dems Best Chance for a Pick-Up in Upper Midwest
Smart Politics’ continuing look at competitive US House races across the Upper Midwest began yesterday with a discussion of the Republican’s best shot at picking up a seat (IA-3). On the other side of the spectrum is Iowa’s 1st Congressional…
Read MoreIA-3: GOP Has Sights Set On Boswell
As Election Day draws nearer, the importance of US House races in the Upper Midwest will be seen through an increased number television advertisements, more money injected into the campaigns by political parties and campaign committees, and more public…
Read MoreMN Senate: Klobuchar Opens Up Remarkable Lead In ‘Controversial’ New MN Poll
Smart Politics normally does not blog on the results of a single poll; this site endeavors to provide more than the horserace angle to politics. However, the recent Minnesota Poll released Sunday night does warrant some discussion. DFL nominee…
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