September 15, 1998 - On this Midday, two former governors and two former chiefs of staff talk to Gary Eichten about the role of governor. Topics include the skills required, administration staff, understanding of state budget, and developing agenda. The guests also answer listener questions.
September 16, 1998 - After an exceptionally long primary campaign with an unusually large number of contenders, the DFL party has narrowed its field of gubernatorial candidates to one: Attorney General Skip Humphrey. Strategists for the Republican candidate, St Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, say now that they know who the opposition is, their campaign will intensify. Minnesota Public Radio's reports: Campaign workers say they've had a hard time focusing the voters' attention in the last few months, with seven major candidates vying for column-inches and air time. Now that it's down to three, Coleman strategist Chris Georgacas says the REAL campaign begins:
September 16, 1998 - Minnesota's race for Governor is now down to three major party candidates. Recent polls had predicted Skip Humphrey would win yesterday's five-way D-F-L primary. Humphrey, who has consistently had the highest name recognition, captured about 38-percent of the vote. Not surprisingly, Republican Norm Coleman - who faced token opposition - won his primary, and the Reform Party's Jesse Ventura - who had no opponent at all - also goes on to the November general election. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... The man with Minnesota's most famous political name called his primary victory a very special night. In a race of the sons of favorite sons, however, the highlight of the evening may have been a
September 16, 1998 - The election primary for the State's top lawyer--Attorney General now sets the stage for a November race between a former commerce commissioner who wants to investigate the health insurance industry and an Anoka State representative who wants to fight juvenile crime. Both winners have different plans for the office that's largely fought consumer fraud under Skip Humphrey's direction for the past 16 years. Minnesota public radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports.
September 16, 1998 - [Saint Paul FOR WEDNESDAY M.E.] Yesterday's election results have cast further doubt on the value of the DFL party endorsement process. Even with the support the endorsement brings, Mike Freeman couldn't beat Skip Humphrey. But he wasn't the only party endorsee to lose yesterday. Attorney General candidate Ember Reichgott Junge also finished a distant third in her race. In fact, only 2 of 6 endorsed candidates for statewide office prevailed yesterday. Minnesota Public Radio's Karen Louise Boothe reports; Mike Freeman emerged early on as the only gubernatorial candidate who promosed to abide by the party's endorsement process last June by not
September 16, 1998 - It's been only 24 hours since the primary election campaign ended, and already the general election campaign is shaping up as an old fashioned battle between business and labor. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: Norm Coleman wasted little time taking his campaign straight to his core constituency -- business people -- and bringing along the best salesman to make the pitch: Governor Carlson: ((Carlson: My exp in politics has been this -- it's kind of like a first date -- the two parties sorta keep their distance and jockey around for awhile... and by the end of the date it's a wrestling match. I'd rather start the wrestling match right off the bat!)) The Governor addressed a friendly crowd of busin
September 16, 1998 - The state patrol arrested two activists this morning in the protest against the rerouting of Highway 55 in Minneapolis. Members of Earth First! and other groups have been camped (out) in the path of the proposed highway expansion for more than a month, but today marked the first arrests. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports. Officers arrested two men who had chained themselves to heavy equipment. The bulldozers were sent there to remove water and gas connections to houses condemned to make way for the highway. Earth First! and other groups including the American Indian Movement, the Indiginous Environmental Network, and the Mendota Dakota have
September 17, 1998 - Joan Growe, outgoing Minnesota Secretary of State, talks about her proposals for election reform, and analyzes the low turnout of 20% in Tuesday's primary election. Growe also answered listener questions.
September 18, 1998 - Arne Carlson, outgoing Governor of Minnesota, and William Freund, New York Stock Exchange Chief Economist Emeritus, speaking at 3rd annual Governor's Economic Summit held in St. Paul.
September 18, 1998 - Norm Coleman, St. Paul Mayor and Republican Gubernatorial nominee, talks with MPR’s Gary Eichten about the issues in the campaign for governor. Topics include political ads, opponents in race, tax cuts, education, affordable housing, and abortion. Coleman also answers listener questions.