October 29, 2002 - On this Midday program, commentator Sarah Stoesz, attorney Sam Kaplan, and callers share stories about the late Senator Paul Wellstone, the family members, and campaign workers who died with him in plane crash in Eveleth, Minnesota on October 25th, 2002.
October 29, 2002 - Folk singer Larry Long is a longtime friend of Senator Wellstone's who is preparing two songs for Wellstone memorial service. Long says he wrote the songs after traveling with Wellstone and his wife Sheila on a plane back from Farmfest in southwestern Minnestoa.
October 30, 2002 - On this Midday program, a focus on Walter Mondale and the U.S. Senate Race. Program begins with a profile of former Vice President Walter Mondale by MPR’s Dan Olson. This is followed with excerpts of previous interviews with Mondale. Program also includes clips with the other candidates for U.S. Senate.
October 30, 2002 - Tune in to Midday for the rest of this week to hear from the major gubernatorial candidates. Today learn about the views of DFLer Roger Moe. Then Republican Tim Pawlenty will be in the studio Thursday at noon, and IP candidate Tim Penny on Friday at 11 a.m. Green Party candidate Ken Pentel was on October 24th.
October 30, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Republican candidate Norm Coleman for U.S. Senate. While DFL'ers select a new candidate this evening, Republican Norm Coleman's campaign plane has just left St. Paul's Holman airfield for a fly around the state. Coleman's campaign swing, that includes International Falls, Thief River Falls and stops in Southern Minnesota. This comes as a new poll from the Star Tribune shows him behind Mondale by eight points.
October 30, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Larry Jacobs, political science professor at the University of Minnesota about status of U.S. Senate race.
November 6, 2002 - MPR’s Michael Khoo breaks down the numbers of 2002’ election results. Republican House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty won his bid to be Minnesota's next governor. With 96% of precincts reporting, unofficial returns show Pawlenty leading DFL rival Roger Moe 45% to 36%. Independence Party candidate Tim Penny was trailing a distant third with 16% of the vote. The Green Party's Ken Pentel finished with just over 2%.
November 6, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with political reporter Mark Zdechlik as voting results come in showing Minnesotans have apparently sent Republican Norm Coleman to the U.S. Senate, rejecting calls to honor Sen. Paul Wellstone's memory by putting Democrat Walter Mondale in his seat.
November 6, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer about dealing with absentee ballots and polling places being swamped by a higher than expected turnout.
November 7, 2002 - Minnesota Senator-elect Norm Coleman says he hopes to persuade interim Senator Dean Barkley to step down before the newly elected members of Congress are sworn in. On November 4th, 2002, Governor Ventura appointed Barkley to replace the late Senator Paul Wellstone who died in a plane crash two weeks ago. Coleman will follow Barkley after defeating former Vice President Walter Mondale in Tuesday's election.