June 7, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer visited the Ventura ranch in Maple Grove and spoke with Terry Ventura in the barn where she runs a horse training and breeding business. She says she has learned a great deal since her husband was elected governor in 1998. Mrs. Ventura says it has taken her quite some time to get comfortable with her role as Minnesota's First Lady.
June 12, 2002 - MPR's Laura McCallum reports that Minnesota Republicans will be endorsing a candidate for governor and the race is a close one between entrepreneur Brian Sullivan and legislative leader Tim Pawlenty. Sullivan holds a slight lead in the party's non-binding straw polls of delegates.
June 12, 2002 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on the final Republican debate before the state's party convention later this week. House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty of Eagan, and Orono businessman Brian Sullivan are engaged in a close race to win the party's endorsement. Both candidates say they'll drop out of the race if delegates choose their opponent.
June 12, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with reporter Michael Khoo, who is in Shanghai, where Governor Jesse Ventura arrived for the second and final stop on his week-long mission to China. Ventura is visiting China to develop contacts and to promote Minnesota goods and services.
June 13, 2002 - The Republican Party holds its state convention this week and the main order of business will be endorsing a candidate for governor. There are two candidates vying for the endorsement, Orono businessman Brian Sullivan and House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty of Eagan. Both candidates say they'll abide by the parties endorsement which could make things interesting since recent straw polls show the two are in a virtual dead heat. This week we're profiling both candidates. Today we'll look at Tim Pawlenty, who says his experience and background are the main reasons delegates should choose him. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports..
June 13, 2002 - Tonight (Thursday evening) Republican party activists will formally endorse former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman for US Senate. Republicans are beginning their state convention this evening at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Top republicans from President Bush on down are banking on Coleman to unseat two term DFL Senator Paul Wellstone. It's a campaign of stark ideological contrasts, even though the last time Wellstone ran, Coleman was a Democrat. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports...
June 13, 2002 - Republican party activists will formally endorse former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman for US Senate. Republicans are beginning their state convention this evening at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Top republicans from President Bush on down are banking on Coleman to unseat two term DFL Senator Paul Wellstone. It's a campaign of stark ideological contrasts, even though the last time Wellstone ran, Coleman was a Democrat.
June 13, 2002 - GARY INTRO: The Republican Party state convention is underway at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. This evening, delegates will endorse their candidate for the US Senate: Norm Coleman. But it's anybody's guess whether businessman Brian Sullivan or legislative leader Tim Pawlenty will win the party's endorsement for Governor. Minnesota Public Radio's Gary Eichten reports........ The Coleman endorsement is a foregone conclusion. He is (virtually) unopposed. But tomorrow's contest for Governor looks like a real toss-up. Sullivan will apparently go into the voting tomorrow with a narrow lead but neither candidate is expected to be close to the 60% delegate support needed for endorsement. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck joins us now with the latest on the contest for Governor..... ______________________
June 14, 2002 - The race for governor is, as predicted, extremely close. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum has been following the balloting, and joins me now. After three ballots, legislative leader Tim Pawlenty leads entrepreneur Brian Sullivan - by just 43 votes, out of nearly 22-hundred cast. On the first ballot, Sullivan led Pawlenty by 13 votes. On the second ballot, Pawlenty pulled ahead of Sullivan - but by just nine votes. Pawlenty says he thinks momentum is going his way...
June 17, 2002 -