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Liveblog: Bachmann/Tinklenberg debate

By Paul Schmelzer | 10.30.08 | 10:36 am

Today at 11 am MPR’s Midday is broadcasting the final candidates’ debate between Republican Michele Bachmann and Democrat El Tinklenberg for Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District seat. MnIndy’s Andy Birkey and Steve Perry are liveblogging the event here.

Join us for a live blog of the final Bachmann v Tinklenberg debate today at 11

By Steve Perry | 10.30.08 | 9:41 am


MPR’s Midday program at 11 a.m. today will be given over to the last debate between Rep. Michele Bachmann and her 6th district opponent, El Tinklenberg. You can find the live feed here at the appointed…

CQ Politics Ratings: Tinklenberg, Sarvi and Walz improve

By Andy Birkey | 10.27.08 | 7:01 pm

Congressional Quarterly released its election rankings for Senate and House races throughout the country, and it isn’t good news for Republicans. In all, 74 Democratic House candidates improved in CQ’s rankings compared to just nine for Republicans. In terms…

Bachmann releases two new ads

By Andy Birkey | 10.27.08 | 8:39 am

Rep. Michele Bachmann is out with two new ads this week. Rumors that she might apologize for remarks she made on MSNBC’s Hardball insinuating that Sen. Barack Obama and certain members of Congress may have anti-American views were quelled when the first ad was released Friday.

In the ad, Bachmann says “I may not always get my words right, but I know that my heart is right. Because my heart is for you, for your children and for the blessings of liberty to remain for our great country.”

Michele Bachmann has raised less than $30,000 since Hardball debacle

By Karl Bremer | 10.24.08 | 11:55 am

The fallout from Rep. Michele Bachmann’s “anti-America” interview with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews last Friday has turned the 2008 6th District race on its head. But it also could poison the well for Bachmann’s future fundraising efforts should she win this time or run for another office in the future.

It’s been widely noted that Bachmann’s challenger, El Tinklenberg, has raised a reported $1.45 million in campaign donations since that interview.

How about Bachmann? She has taken in $29,900 in itemized (over $250) contributions since last Friday. And a spokesman for one of those contributors tells MnIndy his company might not do it again.

Video: Tinklenberg comes out swinging in 2nd spot against Bachmann

By Paul Schmelzer | 10.23.08 | 3:36 pm

Bachmann’s “anti-American” comment. Colin Powell. It’s all in there, and then some: El Tinklenberg’s second TV commerical hits Bachmann’s recent comments on “Hardball,” but adds adds a bit more to the patriotism argument, citing Bachmann’s vote against the…

MnIndy video: What do Bachmann’s constituents think about the ‘anti-American’ controversy?

By Paul Demko | 10.23.08 | 8:59 am

Rep. Michele Bachmann’s recent Hardball blow-up has undoubtedly endangered her re-election prospects. But what do constituents in the 6th Congressional District think of Bachmann’s latest episode of foot-in-mouth disease? On Tuesday afternoon Chris Steller and I ventured into the northern suburbs to speak with voters about the controversy and their feelings regarding Bachmann. The responses were diverse, from a man who calls Bachmann a “nutcase” to a woman who shares Bachmann’s concerns about Barack Obama to a man who no longer votes because he feels all politicians are crooks.

GOP pulling ad support from Bachmann

By Paul Schmelzer | 10.22.08 | 3:33 pm

Two weeks after shifting ad support from Erik Paulsen’s race in the 3rd Congressional District to do media buys in Michele Bachmann’s 6th district, the National Republican Congressional Committee is reportedly pulling its support for Bachmann entirely. Huffington Post’s Sam Stein says that two sources aware of Minnesota ad buys say the GOP is withdrawing its media buys.

“If true, it is a remarkable fall for a congresswoman who, until recently, seemed relatively safe in her predominantly conservative district,” he writes.

And, if true, it might free up media for challenger Elwin Tinklenberg, who has committed only $188,000 for advertising — out of more than $1 million raised since comments by Bachmann on Friday’s edition of “Hardball.”

Update: Politico confirms — and adds that the NRCC is dropping advertising in Colorado and Florida districts as well. TPM offers independent confirmation.

New DCCC ad targets Bachmann

By Andy Birkey | 10.22.08 | 7:49 am

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has launched new ads in the 6th Congressional district as promised, but, like Democratic candidate El Tinklenberg, they avoid mentioning Rep. Michele Bachmann’s gaffe that brought money and attention to the…

Bachmann’s write-in challenger “inundated” with support as funds trickle in

By Paul Schmelzer | 10.21.08 | 1:26 pm

Republican Aubrey Immelman has had a record-breaking few days of web traffic, but nothing like DFLer Elwin Tinklenberg. On Saturday Immelman, a political science professor at the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University, registered as a write-in