Minnesota
The Ventura Legacy: Solidified and Stronger Third Parties
From the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance press release: Jesse Ventura ran in the 1998 governor’s election as a rebel intent on breaking the hold of the two party system on government. Yet, critics charged that Governor…
Read MoreBush Approval Rating in Upper Midwest Lingers in the Basement
Despite relatively positive news coming out of Iraq and a new campaign season that has focused the lens of the news media off the sitting president to the new contenders, George W. Bush cannot shake the horrendous job approval…
Read MoreMinnesotans’ Outlook on U.S. Economy Quite Bleak
With the 2008 general election just about seven months away, Minnesotans are very wary about the state of the nation’s economy, and appear to be ready to vote for a candidate who can best protect their pocketbook. The percentage of…
Read MoreClinton Makes Big Gains Against Obama vis-à-vis McCain in Upper Midwest
In polling conducted just as the Reverend Wright story broke nationally last week, Hillary Clinton appears to have made substantial gains across the Upper Midwest in terms of her relative competitiveness with Republican nominee John McCain, as compared to her…
Read MoreColeman with 10-Point Lead Over Franken in New MN Senate Poll
Republican Senator Norm Coleman enjoys a 10-point lead over DFL hopeful Al Franken, according to a new survey of 644 registered voters by SurveyUSA, conducted on March 12th. Coleman leads Franken 51 to 41 percent, with 7 percent undecided. This…
Read MoreWill Bush Drive Independents Away from McCain in Upper Midwest?
Last week John McCain, in a somewhat awkward festivity, accepted President George W. Bush’s endorsement for the presidency after wrapping up the majority of delegates needed to secure the Republican nomination. McCain, setting aside his staunch support for the still…
Read MoreMN Legislature Overrides Pawlenty’s Transportation Bill Veto
In a fascinating development on Monday, the Minnesota House voted to override Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty’s transportation bill veto. The DFL picked up 2 votes since the bill’s passage, and thus had one vote to spare in a 91-41 vote…
Read MoreThe Bill Stops Here: Governor Pawlenty’s Veto Pen
Governor Tim Pawlenty’s veto on February 22nd of a controversial transportation bill has set the stage for the DFL-controlled legislature to attempt an override. Governor Pawlenty has deployed the veto more often (37 times since 2003) than all but 2…
Read MoreGetting to 90: House Override of Pawlenty’s Transportation Bill Veto Unlikely
Governor Tim Pawlenty’s veto last Friday of a controversial transportation bill raises the prospect of a veto-override attempt by a DFL-controlled legislature that passed the bills by wide margins on February 21st. The $6.6 billion dollar bill seeks to fund…
Read MoreClinton Trails, Obama Sails Against McCain in IA, MN
Echoing similar results reported yesterday in Wisconsin, Barack Obama currently has a strong advantage when matched up against John McCain in the Upper Midwestern states of Iowa and Minnesota, especially when compared to Hillary Clinton, according to polls released today…
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