MN US Senate
Putting a Bow on the 2008 Minnesota U.S. Senate Contest (A Historical Analysis)
With Governor Tim Pawlenty and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie signing the election certificate for the U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday evening, the 2008 Election is, after a 238-day wait, at last in the books. The 2008 U.S. Senate Election…
Read MoreNorm Coleman Ends 2008 Election Legal Fight
Speaking outside his house in St. Paul on Tuesday afternoon, former Republican Senator Norm Coleman congratulated DFLer Al Franken as the new Senator from the Gopher State. Earlier this afternoon the Minnesota Supreme Court decided Franken was “entitled” to a…
Read MoreMinnesota U.S. Senate Race Still Fodder for Late-Night Comedians
Now seven and a half months out from Election Day, the U.S. Senate contest between DFLer Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman is still providing a few yucks on late-night television. In recent weeks, Bill Maher has been a virtual…
Read MoreThe Secret to Klobuchar’s Popularity: Enduring Republican Support
The latest round of SurveyUSA monthly polling data again shows Minnesota DFL U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar holding on to her statewide support more than any of the 25 Senators tracked by the polling organization. With a 62 percent approval rating,…
Read MoreMinnesota 2nd Most Competitive State for U.S. Senate Elections Since 1990
With the three-judge panel ruling on Monday that Al Franken received more legally cast votes than Norm Coleman, the Minnesota 2008 U.S. Senate race moved one step closer to a final resolution. Coleman has stated he will file an appeal…
Read MoreAmy Klobuchar: Steady as She Goes
The latest U.S. Senate approval numbers released by SurveyUSA for the month of March find Minnesota DFLer Amy Klobuchar with the 4th highest rating of the 27 Senators tracked by the polling organization. But that’s not the headline. What…
Read More79 Days: Minnesota Sets State Record for Longest Period With Only One U.S. Senator
At 12:00 am Monday morning, the State of Minnesota set a new record for operating at half-strength in Capitol Hill’s upper chamber. At 79 days and counting, Minnesota’s current stint with only one U.S. Senator has now eclipsed the…
Read MoreOn Why Analyzing the Leaked Coleman Data Is Ethical: A Reply to My Critics
Ethical questions have been raised in recent days surrounding the reporting by news organizations and bloggers on the leaked Norm Coleman U.S. Senate campaign pledges and contributions. Smart Politics has also received its fair share of both criticism and praise…
Read MoreAn Occupational Profile of Norm Coleman’s Campaign Donor List
The many bits of information made available from the leak of the Norm Coleman U.S. Senate campaign donor database, posted at Wikileaks on Wednesday, gives the public a glimpse into what type of people supported the Republican incumbent’s candidacy. On…
Read MoreColeman’s Compromised Donors: Where They Came From
The news for Norm Coleman just keeps getting worse. Fresh off his recent attempt to sell to the public (and the three-judge panel hearing his recount challenge) that the State of Minnesota should hold a new election, the private…
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