September 21, 2006 - Amy Klobuchar's U.S. Senate campaign is looking for a new communications director after firing chief spokeswoman Tara McGuinness earlier this week. The DFLer's campaign issued a statement yesterday saying McGuinness was let go after she viewed an unreleased TV ad for Republican candidate Mark Kennedy that she may have accessed illegally. Kennedy's campaign has responded with questions, but not accusations. MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on situation, interviews blogger, and gets commentary from members of tech industry.
September 20, 2006 - MPR's Tom Scheck reports on debate of top candidates in U.S. Senate race. The hour-long forum was hosted by AARP, WCCO Radio and Twin Cities Public Television. Republican Mark Kennedy and DFLer Amy Klobuchar spent a large part of the time disagreeing on their positions and dispelling each other’s attacks, while Independence Party Member Robert Fitzgerald stated he was the alternative to the two other candidates.
September 15, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on the three major party candidates running for Congress in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. DFL candidate Keith Ellison, Republican Alan Fine, and Independence Party member Tammy Lee met in their first debate since Tuesday's primary. Fine continued his criticism of Ellison for his past relationship with the Nation of Islam during the debate on Minnesota Public Radio News. Ellison said he's surprised by Fine's continued criticism and would prefer to focus on the issues. Lee stated the back and forth between the two candidates is an example of why the voters should send an independent to Washington.
September 13, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that State Representative Keith Ellison has won the DFL nomination for Minnesota's Fifth Congressional seat. Ellison won a hard-fought primary contest against six other DFL candidates, including a former state senator and a former DFL Party chair. Ellison's victory makes him a heavy favorite to replace Congressman Martin Sabo, who is retiring from the seat. But Ellison's Republican opponent says he will continue to question Ellison's character, a campaign tactic that Ellison's DFL opponents used with little success.
September 1, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck presents a summary report of U.S. Senate debate at Minnesota State Fair. The three major party endorsed candidates running for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat held a heated debate on health care, the war in Iraq and tax policy.
August 29, 2006 - With a little more than two months before the November election, Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty has a significant fundraising lead over his opponents. Pawlenty's campaign says the governor has $2 million in the bank. The campaign also says Pawlenty may forego the state's public subsidy so he's not bound by the the campaign spending limit. If so, it would be the first time in nearly 25 years that a major party candidate declined the public subsidies. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports..
August 24, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on four DFLers running in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District who debated at the Minnesota State Fair over health care, the war in Iraq, and public safety issues.
August 4, 2006 - The Republican-endorsed candidate for Minnesota's U.S. Senate race stepped up his criticism of his chief opponent. Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy said DFLer Amy Klobuchar has not taken a clear stance regarding the war in Iraq. Kennedy also questioned the way Klobuchar is portraying herself in the campaign and called her another liberal lawyer. Kennedy, who is trailing in the polls, said Minnesota's Senate race could determine which party controls the Senate next year. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck presents report, including political commentary.
August 2, 2006 - It's no secret that incumbency gives politicians certain advantages that many of their challengers can't match. Sometimes it's simply a higher public profile. But where to draw the line on using the advantages of office has become an issue in the Minnesota gubernatorial race, which includes two state officeholders - Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Attorney General Mike Hatch. The Republican Party today (Weds) asked for an investigation into Hatch's use of state letterhead on campaign materials, as well as his campaign's use of reports produced by the attorney general's office. Hatch says Republicans are trying to cover up Governor Tim Pawlenty's attempts to use his office for political gain. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports....
July 25, 2006 - MPR's Tom Scheck reports on the television ads of two candidates running for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat. Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy hit the airwaves today with a minute-long ad touting his background. His DFL opponent, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, focuses her ads more on her experience as a prosecutor.