Minnesota Independent

Republican group attacks Klobuchar on Obama tax plan

By Andy Birkey | 12.13.10 | 2:31 pm

The National Republican Senatorial Committee went after Sen. Amy Klobuchar in a press release last week and again on Monday criticizing her hesitance to take a stand on the tax cut compromise brokered between President Obama and Republican Senators. The attack came after new polling showed Klobuchar with the highest favorability rating of any Democratic senator up for re-election in 2012. She would also clobber Republicans in a series of theoretical matchups.

Pawlenty: A $50 gift to the NRSC and this fish could be you

By Chris Steller | 10.28.09 | 8:32 am

Among the rewards Gov. Pawlenty dangles in a fundraising email on behalf of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC): “a photo opportunity with me.”

Legal bills aside, parties’ Coleman-Franken payouts at near-equal trickle

By Chris Steller | 08.25.09 | 5:44 pm

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) covered $500,000 of U.S. Sen. Al Franken’s recount-related legal costs last month, the Associated Press reports. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) already made its big payout ($938,000) to former Sen. Norm Coleman’s…

GOP web ad warns of Al-mageddon

By Chris Steller | 07.07.09 | 7:08 am

A new Republican web ad, titled “60,” again recycles footage of Al Franken gesticulating wildly — in imitation of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone cheering his son’s cross-country race. This time it’s accompanied by mournful music,…

Senate spat: Franken brief due today, GOP raises recount funds for Coleman

By Chris Steller | 05.11.09 | 10:46 am

The latest in the spat over Minnesota’s U.S. Senate seat: Al Franken is due to file his reply to Norm Coleman’s election-contest appeal at the state Supreme Court today. Senate GOP leaders raised money at a Washington, D.C., steakhouse for…

Wisconsin GOPer Ryan: ‘Most of us’ think Franken will win

By Paul Schmelzer | 04.30.09 | 9:15 am

As Minnesota Public Radio’s Tom Scheck puts it, Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan has thrown Norm Coleman under the bus. In a web-only interview with Katie Couric — now being circulated by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign…

The destination that Republicans see for Senate-seat saga? ‘The bitter end’

By Chris Steller | 03.09.09 | 12:24 pm

Where do national Republican leaders, who are helping bankroll Norm Coleman’s election contest fight, see Minnesota’s Senate saga going? “We’re in completely,” National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) tells The Politico. “We’ll support Norm…

Republicans agree with Franken on letting parties raise election contest cash

By Chris Steller | 03.03.09 | 12:55 pm

fec-graphic2 Three Republican groups are telling the federal government they agree with Democrat Al Franken on something: There should be more ways for donors to send more dollars to support the rivals in Minnesota’s ongoing U.S. Senate election contest.

Romney bankrolls Coleman recount effort

By Paul Schmelzer | 11.11.08 | 2:09 pm

As the National Republican Senatorial Committee launches the blog MinnesotaRecount.com, the New York Times reports that Mitt Romney is directing cash — $5,000 so far — from his PAC to help fund Norm Coleman’s recount…

TV ad best-of lists bestow consolation prizes on Franken, Coleman, Madia

By Chris Steller | 11.11.08 | 9:13 am

Three Minnesota candidates who didn’t win their elections — or haven’t won yet anyway, with the U.S. Senate race still in limbo — can take a little consolation in having their television ads (or ads meant to benefit them) honored on national best-of lists. “Running,” the first TV ad that Democrat Ashwin Madia aired in his losing bid to replace U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, was this morning ranked among the nation’s eight best ads in U.S. House races this year by The Fix, a Washington Post blog. Videos and more best-of listings after the jump, including the ad attacking Madia that used clips from “Running.”