October 30, 1998 - Midday presents a special "Talk of Minnesota" program, presenting the views of MPR listeners on what they've heard from the candidates so far and what they want to hear in next debate or on the campaign trail in order to make their choice for governor.
November 2, 1998 - Sarah Stoesz, DFL analyst; Tom Horner, Republican analyst; and Dean Barkley, Reform party analyst, provide commentary on this election-eve special. Program includes interviews of gubernatorial candidates on the campaign trail around the state. Stoesz, Horner and Barkley also answer listener questions.
November 2, 1998 - Sarah Stoesz, DFL analyst; Tom Horner, Republican analyst; and Dean Barkley, Reform party analyst, provide commentary on this election-eve special. Program includes interviews of Attorney General candidates on the campaign trail around the state. Stoesz, Horner and Barkley also answer listener questions. Program begins with reports from MPR reporters following the campaigns.
November 3, 1998 - An election day program focusing on the hotly-contested senate races all around the country. Program presents reporters in New York, Wisconsin, California, North Carolina, Illinois and Washington...as well as NPR's Elizabeth Arnold, about the fight for control of the US House and Senate.
November 4, 1998 - Tim Penny and Tom Horner address the Minnesota Meeting. They discuss the post-election results and impact, followed by a question and answer period. Tim McGuire, Editor of the Star Tribune, hosts meeting. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
November 5, 1998 - House minority leader Steve Sviggum, who is expected to be the new speaker of the house, discusses the issues and candidates that enabled republicans to take control of the Minnesota house. Topics include working with newly-elected Governor Ventura, state budget, and decisive issue of tax cuts. Sviggum also answers listener questions. Program begins with MPR’s Martin Kaste providing a report on Reform party from the capitol.
November 5, 1998 - George Latimer, former St. Paul mayor, shares his thoughts of the role of public service and politicians. Topics include the recent election of “non-politician” Jesse Ventura, the change in electorate, governmental knowledge as a functioning public good, and the “legislative center.” Latimer also answers listener questions.
November 5, 1998 - Governor-elect Jesse Ventura spent the day basking in the national limelight, with a photo shoot for Newsweek this morning and one for TIME magazine this evening -- possibly for the cover. Ventura says he'll keep talking to the national media through Sunday, but after that he intends to focus full-time on preparing his transition into power. The fledgling Reform Party is doing what it can to share some of Ventura's newfound fame; Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: In the media frenzy surrounding Jesse Ventura's upset victory, his party has been lost in the shuffle. The Reformers tried to fix that with a Capitol Hill news conference -- one that attracted more reporters and camera crews than any Reform Party news conference in recent memory. Party Chair Diane Goldman says she wants to seize the moment to grow the party's membership:
November 5, 1998 - For Minnesotans having a tough time defending our choice for governor to out-of-staters, Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts has a few tips. HOST TAG: Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts and Mike Mulcahy. with apologies to David Letterman.
November 5, 1998 - Business and labor leaders have had a few days now to absorb the news of Jesse Ventura's suprise victory Tuesday night. While neither side claims to know a great deal about the Ventura agenda, both claim they'll find common ground with his administration. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo surveys the new landscape. NARRATION: In this year's election, quite predictably, business gave their support to Republican Norm Coleman and labor backed D-F-Ler Skip Humphrey. Neither expected Reform candidate Jesse Ventura would prevail. But now that the contest is over, leaders of both business AND labor express optimism that Ventura, a relatively unknown political quantity, represents a new opportunity for both of their camps.