Mystique of electability: There is something about R.T.
By Blois Olson | Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009
R.T. Rybak's entry into the governor's race wasn't a surprise, but the mystique that follows him leaves many confounded.
' [...]
Minnesota's race for governor: Only one issue matters
By Blois Olson | Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
Energy is great. Health Care is important. Taxes matter. But the 2010 governor's race has to be about jobs.
[...] DFL lacks a frontrunner in governor's race
By Blois Olson | Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
DFLers, who thought that their field in the race for governor would have more clarity after the summer, are still without a clear front runner.
[...] Race for governor begins to shake out and shape up
By Blois Olson | Friday, Oct. 9, 2009
This week's news of St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman bowing out and House Minority Leader Marty Seifert winning the Republican Party gubernatorial straw poll bring the' [...]
Why is politics in this state so serious?
By Blois Olson | Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
Minnesota politicos need to loosen up. For the past few years, Minnesota politics has been lacking humor, jokes and stories.
[...]August is often thought of as the dog days of summer. For Congress and Washington, it's a "break," but not so this year with summer's heated health-care town hall gatherings. Minnesota's 6th Congressional District is a national case of what is at stake for Republicans during this debate, and this [...]
mngop.comMichael Brodkorb
State GOP bloggers lose their leader, Michael Brodkorb
By Blois Olson
Monday, August3, 2009
Michael Brodkorb has left the blogosphere. With one of the most politically influential bloggers in Minnesota turning in his keyboard to become the deputy [...]
As fundraising takes off, watch the Paulsen and Bachmann races
By Blois Olson | Thursday, July 16, 2009
The latest congressional fundraising reports are in. And based on fundraising, conventional political wisdom indicates that the two U.S. House seats to watch in Minnesota are [...]
Why Franken won and the lessons we all learned
By Blois Olson | Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The lessons we should take from this race are that political operatives can make the difference in an election and that core Minnesota values of humility and [...]
State Rep. Kurt Zellers
Zellers: Trivia question or the next rising GOP star?
By Blois Olson | Wednesday, June 24, 2009
State House Republicans elected Rep. Kurt Zellers, a skilled political operative and public relations pro, to [...]
Is Pawlenty really a conservative all-star?
By Blois Olson | Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Gov. Tim Pawlenty is acting less like a rising star and more like a status-quo go-along-to-get-along governor.
[...] In Minnesota's governor's race, history tells us to expect the unexpected
By Blois Olson | Thursday, June 11, 2009
The 2010 race is shaping up as Minnesota's first political campaign to play out in the era of full-time social media. More and more these' [...]
Rush from the bench: Republicans line up to play in gubernatorial big leagues
By Blois Olson | Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Gov. Tim Pawlenty's announcement officially makes the 2010 governor's race a bench-clearing brawl. Here's a run-down of potential GOP candidates and their strengths' [...]
Hatch could still play hardball in 2010
By Blois Olson | Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Mike Hatch may not be angling to be on the ballot in the race for governor in 2010, but don't expect him to sit idly by.
' [...] With the help of Facebook, DFL activists try to draft a new star
By Blois Olson | Friday, May 8, 2009
Young DFL supporters of St. Paul City Attorney John Choi have used the popular social networking site to persuade him to enter [...]
Kids -- and now, Republicans -- say darndest things
By Blois Olson | Wednesday, May 6, 2009
As the Republican Party works to 're-brand' itself, some high-profile Minnesota members seem to be testing a new messaging strategy that relies on a familiar marketing approach: [...]
Michele Bachmann leads state's congressional colleagues in early fundraising
By Blois Olson | Friday, April 17, 2009
Minnesota's 6th District Rep. Michele Bachmann, the recipient of extensive national media attention, finished first in fundraising among her colleagues in the state's congressional delegation, according to' [...]
It's Tax Day, but where's Pawlenty?
By Blois Olson | Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Today's Tax Day and an anti-tax "Tea Party" is planned at the state Capitol. But Gov. Tim Pawlenty is not on the agenda of schedule speakers. What gives?
' [...] Who will Minnesota Republicans choose to lead their divided party?
By Blois Olson | Friday, April 10, 2009
Party activists seem noticeably divided over the future of its leadership. The recent entrance of former state Sen. Carrie Ruud and talk-show host Dave Thompson to [...]
Pawlenty and Coleman: A political Gordian Knot ready for cutting
By Blois Olson | Monday, April 6, 2009
After seven years of forced “togetherness,” former Sen. Norm Coleman and Gov. Tim Pawlenty may finally be able to politically separate themselves. That would be good [...]
The DFL Dozen: Handicapping the crowded field of 2010 candidates for Minnesota governor
By Blois Olson | Friday, March 27, 2009
Handicapping what Gov. Tim Pawlenty will do next year in terms of seeking another term is a tough task, but figuring out the political [...]
Like the national party, Minnesota Republicans face key challenges
By Blois Olson | Friday, March 20, 2009
Newly elected Republican Party Chair Michael Steele inherited a national party with significant challenges. Republicans face many of the same challenges in Minnesota.
[...]
Facebook means face time for politicians
By Blois Olson | Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009
Minnesota's legislators are trendy: They're adopting Facebook at an unbelievable pace.
Franken can take a lesson from Ellison
By Blois Olson | Monday, Feb. 9, 2009
If he goes to Washington as Minnesota's new senator, Al Franken might want to learn from Keith Ellison: Keep your head down and get to work.
' [...]As I make the rounds of post-election panels, one question keeps coming up: What about Instant Run Off Voting (IRV)? At which point I confess that there is something about IRV that seems un-American.
[...]As we enter the Thanksgiving holiday, one name that will be buzzed about around the table across Minnesota and at other politically driven feasts throughout the country is Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
[...]The tension and opportunity for one party to have a rightful claim to the late Paul Wellstone's seat in the U.S. Senate has been building for six years.
[...]Monday — or in this case, Friday — morning quarterbacking is easy in sports and elections. After all, you have stats in sports and elections to draw conclusions.
[...]Now that the election's over, it's time to find something to speculate about besides vote percentages and electoral swing states. So what better than Minnesotans who may be tagged for high-ranking posts in President Obama's administration?
[...]This is not Michele Bachmann's first time — nor will it be her last — backpedaling like Michael Jackson in the "Thriller" video.
[...]As Minnesota's U.S. House members go this year, Republican John Kline appears to be the safest of the lot. But it could have been different if Kline's opponent, Steve Sarvi, would have raised enough money to make the 2nd Congressional District competitive. And while Kline could still face a closer-than-comfortable [...]
From time to time, I'll bring you behind-the-scenes information about the movers and shakers of the political world in Minnesota. If you have information, please email me at bolson [at] minnpost [dot] com.
[...]Ads don't always tell the entire story, but in the battle to replace retiring Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., DFLer Ashwin Madia has more momentum in the ad war than Republican Erik Paulsen.
[...]Historically, Edina has equaled Republican. There has rarely been a more consistent area of the state that votes for Republicans, but the gradual shift is very evident this year, and it could become an all-Democratic year in the city known for representing the picture-perfect GOP stronghold.
[...]One of the biggest unknowns in this election is what Generation Y voters will do.
[...]There are two political skills that the GOP has mastered in modern campaigns that continue to challenge Democrats: maintaining discipline and creating artificial outrage.
[...]The GOP convention bug has clearly infected the politicos and media of Minnesota. But the question is: Has it been infectious for the rest of the state or the country?
[...]Despite Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s good public front, it is clear through his actions and conversations with people close to him, including staff, that he went to bed last Thursday fairly confident that [...]
Minnesotans always have an extra spring in their steps when one of their own succeeds on the national or international stage. Beyond two favorite sons as vice presidents, Minnesota has had more than its fair share of recognized celebrities. This time it wasn’t meant to be for Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
[...]The DNC wouldn't seem like a friendly venue for a corporate health-care behemoth. But a UnitedHealth executive garnered some of the loudest applause at a forum on health-care reform, according to BusinessWeek.
[...]In Friday's local news roundup, Tim Pawlenty isn't tapped, proving markets are dumb. Also: protester sweeps tonight? And: What if we didn't need the 35W bridge after all?
[...]Across the river from where "artists" of one sort or another are clogging streets for the RNC is an underground movement designed to empower those who've been disenfranchised from the conventional system.
[...]The circumstances couldn't be better for an incandescent performance by these explosively feisty, Grammy-award winning thrash rockers. They were in their pissed-off prime during the Clinton era, splintering into semi-retirement right around the time the U.S. Supreme Court was ruling on Bush vs. Gore. Consigning themselves to a smattering of [...]
The Clintons have spoken. Obama is their guy, and the media is debating whether they truly passed the torch or just temporarily bestowed their benediction on Barack. Cynical if not smart money is on the latter. But as with much of the drama at the Democratic convention, the Clinton-Obama rift [...]
Lost in Eddie Guardado's return to Minnesota is that the Twins cut Mike Lamb loose to make room for him on the roster. Signed to a two-year, $6.6 million contract this winter, Lamb is still due around $3.5 million for the remainder of this season and all of [...]
Gander Mountain is going retro. The outdoor retailer's fall catalog will sport a look similar to its 1960s catalogs, some of which are now collectors' items.
[...]The crunch in the Twin Cities media market means fewer opportunities for teens interested in trying their hand at journalism.
[...]As the "Farmer's Almanac" predicts the weather for the upcoming winter, it is time to think about the data we use to predict political seasons. Since 1990 the Minnesota electorate has been very volatile. If it were under psychoanalysis, it might be considered schizophrenic or bi-polar. This year appears to [...]
Rep. Michele Bachmann is vulnerable, but it isn't because of controversies that have surrounded her since she entered politics in 2000. Let us recall: hiding in the bushes to spy on a rally by gays and lesbians, playing Paris Hilton for God on the pulpit with Mac Hammond and kissing [...]
