am.mn logo“Is the door closed? No it’s not,” State Sen. Terri Bonoff said to Minnesota Public Radio’s Polinaut yesterday, clarifying what the DFLer told the Minnesota Independent last week about another run for Congress in the Third District: “The door is open.” U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen’s fellow Republicans at Minnesota Democrats Exposed jumped on the news: “Bonoff would join Jim ‘Two Last Names’ Nelson-Meffert of the Edina Parent Teacher Association and Maureen Hackett.” True, none of the possibles would get $700,000 from Indian-Americans, as Dem Ashwin Madia did last time, but it helps if the GOP is willing to forego votes from people with hyphenated names, along with Latinos and the new-media savvy.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning …

MINNEAPOLIS: Paid for, done that. Mayor Rybak reneged a long time ago on pledges to reform how he and other city candidates finance their campaigns. [Star Tribune]

ST. PAUL: Governor, Dems break their fast. By the time you read this, Gov. Pawlenty and top DFLers will have shared a morning meal and decided how to unmake the hash that is the state budget. [ECM Publishers]

STATEWIDE: An uncrowded gubernatorial field. Slim pickings so far for the Independence Party. [Minnesota Public Radio]

ST. PAUL: Abe Lincoln in Minnesota. He never was, but a panel explores his legacy here today. [Associated Press]

MAHTOMEDI: Kelley might try primary. DFL Party endorsement is not the be-all, end-all this time around for former state Sen. Steve Kelley in the governor’s race. [Associated Press]

ST. PAUL: Al Franken behind on recount bills. Numbers don’t yet add up for the Harvard math major turned U.S. Senator. [MinnPost]