July 11, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that Ford Bell has dropped out of the race for U.S. Senate. Bell intended to challenge Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar in a September primary. But he says difficulty raising money led to his withdrawal. Bell's announcement now clears the way for Klobuchar, the DFL endorsed candidate for Senate, to face Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy.
March 3, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on first U.S. Senate debate. Taxes, health care and national security were among the key issues addressed by three candidates running for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat. The seat has been viewed as one of the more competitive seats in the nation ever since Mark Dayton announced his decision not to run for reelection. Republican Mark Kennedy and DFLers Amy Klobuchar and Ford Bell all hope to replace the DFL incumbent and put their differences on display in the debate sponsored by the North Metro Chamber of Commerce.
January 20, 2006 - Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports on child advocate Patty Wetterling withdrawing from the U.S. Senate race and endorsing Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar. Wetterling said she made her decision so the DFL party would unite behind Klobuchar. While many political experts are calling Klobuchar the party's clear front-runner, fellow DFLer Ford Bell says he's in the race until the end.