Radio days: Obama’s wired-side chats, T-Paw’s missing mea culpa on ‘CCO

The parallels between the plan for President-elect Obama to post YouTube videos of his Saturday presidential radio addresses and President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famed fireside chats aren’t lost on anyone this morning. Obama will roll out the practice tomorrow when he gives the Democratic response to President George W. Bush’s radio address.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s got his own regular radio gig, but his absence from it today meant a missed opportunity to set the record straight on his opinion of Minnesota’s electoral process.

Does politicking since Nov. 4 smear officials, process? Election judges say no

Charges are flying that post-election lawsuits, press releases, talking points, and media (un)availabilities are smearing — or worse, interfering in — Minnesota’s election process, and sliming — or worse, intentionally intimidating — the state’s election officials. Setting aside for the moment the current and serious question of whether intimidation tactics are in play, it’s worth hearing out two Minnesota Independent commenters, self-identified election judges both, who say they don’t feel slimed by basic calls for review, recount and investigation.

Farm bill is sweet to beet farmers, sugar industry

Minnesota’s sugar industry got a sweet treat from Congress. The new farm bill passed last week guarantees minimum pricing through 2011 and mandates that the government must purchase surplus…

Survey USA: Franken hurt by tax issues

The latest Survey USA poll of the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota reveals that Al Franken’s tax problems are hurting him with voters.…

Giuliani headlines Coleman fundraiser in New Jersey

The Politico’s Jonathan Martin notes that Rudy Giuliani is reemerging after his defeat in the GOP primaries, and his big coming out happened to be as the special guest of a New Jersey fundraiser…

Coleman enlists 35W bridge tragedy in his campaign against Franken

Sen. Norm Coleman has a new weapon in his arsenal and it is intended for his anticipated opponent, Al Franken. The incumbent senator has recently suggested that if Franken had been in the U.S. Senate when the…

Franken’s gay humor resurfaces as a campaign issue

Minnesota politicos are asking themselves: When is a joke not a joke?

Republicans hope that by disseminating jokes made by Al Franken, the comedian turned Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, they can undermine his campaign to unseat Republican Norm…

Sen. Coleman endorses McCain

Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., endorsed Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Sunday in the race for the Republican nomination.

Coleman had previously endorsed former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who dropped out of the race last week.

“I have had…

Coleman staffer arrested for drunk driving

Fox 9 News reports that Adam Doyle, an aide to Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., was arrested by University of Minnesota police for drunk driving this weekend. His blood-alcohol content was .20 — twice the legal limit.

According to the…

How (and Why) Norm Coleman Got Rachel Paulose Appointed

Sen. Norm Coleman sponsored the appointment of U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose, who recently announced her resignation from that post after a very rocky tenure. He now acknowledges that her lack of experience…