AM.MN: GOP’s phony ‘census’ could hurt … GOP

If official-looking “census” forms that actually come from the Republican Party succeed in confusing people, the tactic could come back to bite the GOP in Minnesota. Demographers have said the state is on the cusp of losing a congressional seat, depending on whether enough residents respond to the real U.S. Census. That’s the census Michele Bachmann has complained about, but it’s her party’s fake census (pdf) that could help make her Sixth District seat disappear.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning … 

SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: “The end of Arlen Specter.” That’s what Bachmann predicts as she swipes back at the senator from Pennsylvania for commanding her to act like a lady (audio). [Hot Dish Politics]

ELY: The end of bear privacy. Webcam promising view of live birth in bear’s den draws thousands of peering human eyeballs. [Fox 9]

STATE CAPITOL: Ethics first? Gov. Pawlenty’s PAC lets him skirt state limits on taking special-interest money during the legislative session. [Minnesota Public Radio]

STATEWIDE: Build a wall. Wisconsin’s unemployment rate is higher than Minnesota’s by 1.3 percentage points — the biggest gap in 22 years. [Smart Politics]

MINNEAPOLIS: “Purple and Gold.” Prince issues a song for the Minnesota Vikings; Mayor R.T. Rybak wagers local CDs by Brother Ali, Mason Jennings and the Minnesota Beatle Project. [Fox9; Gimme Noise]

STATE CAPITOL: Dick Cheney would take that bet. A gubernatorial Facebook war prompts suggestion that Pawlenty agree to be Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s runningmate if the New Orleans Saints beat the Vikings. [Associated Press]