Minnesota Independent

National Organization for Marriage’s anti-DFL text raises questions of legality

By Andy Birkey | 11.15.10 | 1:48 pm

In the final days of the 2010 campaign, text messages were sent out accusing Mark Dayton and the DFL of Catholic bashing. It has been revealed that those text messages were sent out by the New Jersey-based National Organization for Marriage, and the manner in which they were sent out is raising questions about the legality of unsolicited texts in campaigns.

GOP alleges Catholic-bashing in DFL ad that targets evangelical

By Andy Birkey | 10.27.10 | 12:08 pm

The Minnesota GOP is charging the DFL with Catholic bashing over a campaign postcard showing a religious leader wearing a clerical collar and a button that reads “Ignore the poor.” While the GOP is calling the piece “anti-Catholic,” it’s targeting Dan Hall, an evangelical pastor and Republican candidate for the state Senate in Bloomington and Burnsville.

Clark, Bachmann and Dayton launch new ads

By Andy Birkey | 10.14.10 | 9:44 am

Rep. Michele Bachmann, state Sen. Tarryl Clark and DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton all released new ads on Wednesday. The House race featured attack ads — Bachmann gives Clark an “F,” while Clark says Bachmann should be outsourced — while…

Paulsen’s new TV ad, website attacks ‘big spender’ Meffert

By Andy Birkey | 10.07.10 | 8:58 am

Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen’s new ad, released Wednesday, targets his DFL opponent Jim Meffert. The ad calls Meffert a “big spender” and says that he wants to cut Medicare by $500 million. The ad is similar to one Paulsen released last week and is accompanied by a new website, TheRealMeffert.com.

Marcus Bachmann decries Clark’s ‘profanity-laced’ ad

By Andy Birkey | 10.06.10 | 1:46 pm

Rep. Michele Bachmann’s husband, Marcus, took issue with a recent web ad by his wife’s opponent, DFLer Tarryl Clark, which said, “Michele Bachmann: Not doing @#%! for the people of the 6th District.” Marcus Bachmann, in an email fundraising pitch, called the ad a “profanity-laced attack” on his wife and said it amounted to “transparent attempts to lure my wife into a grade school cussing match.”

Emmer releases new television ad: ‘Balance’

By Andy Birkey | 10.06.10 | 11:29 am

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer released a new television ad on Wednesday called “Balance.” In it he vows to “limit the growth in state spending to the amount of taxes we collect, so government does not spend money we don’t have.” It’s the third television ad by the campaign this election season.

New Oberstar ad focuses on Recovery Act jobs

By Andy Birkey | 10.05.10 | 1:28 pm

Rep. Jim Oberstar released a new ad on Tuesday that focuses on the American Recovery Act, saying that it resulted in new jobs for Minnesotans. The ad, Oberstar’s second this campaign, features a truck driver named Joyce who says the act put her back to work.

Tom Horner releases new television ad, radio ads featuring Gov. Carlson

By Andy Birkey | 10.04.10 | 9:05 am

In a new television ad released Friday, Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner touts his experience running a small business. The campaign also says it has two new radio ads, including one that features former Republican Gov. Arne Carlson.

New Bachmann ad hits back at Clark challenge

By Andy Birkey | 10.01.10 | 7:47 am

Rep. Michele Bachmann released a new television ad Thursday taking issue with the challenge posed in ads by her DFL opponent Tarryl Clark to cut her congressional pay and office budget. In the ad, Bachmann says that Clark voted against legislative pay cuts and voted for increases in per diems.

Dayton out with two new television ads

By Andy Birkey | 09.29.10 | 2:55 pm

Mark Dayton, the DFL candidate for governor, released two new television ads on Wednesday. The first, titled “Dayton’s Values,” touts his family’s business, while the second, “Middle Class,” outlines some of the former senator’s key talking points on the middle class and job creation.