November 6, 2000 - Questions on social security dominated the final debate between Minnesota's three major U.S. Senate candidates, Republican Rod Grams, Independence party candidate James Gibson and D-F-Ler Mark Dayton. With just a day to go before the elections, the atmosphere among the candidates at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul was spirited and sometimes tense, with an unusually rowdy audience adding to the mix. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
November 3, 2000 - A US Senate debate last night at the Mall of America raised questions about DFLer Mark Dayton's position on gun control. As Dayton sparred with incumbent Republican Rod Grams and Independence Party candidate James Gibson, he seemed to contradict positions he staked out earlier in the campaign. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
November 1, 2000 - Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader continues to wage an unrepentent campaign, and says his focus is on building a political movement, not on whether his showing hurts Vice President Al Gore or helps George W. Bush. Nader appeared at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis Tuesday as a guest on A-B-C's "Nightline" with Ted Koppel and Governor Jesse Ventura. The topic of the show was third parties, and both Nader and Ventura advocated a number of reforms they say would open the political process to third party candidates and galvanize more Americans to vote. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
October 30, 2000 - In his visit to Minneapolis Saturday, Democratic Vice President Al Gore described Minnesota as "the heart and soul of the Democratic party." But Minnesota is starting to look more like a battleground state, and therefore grabbing more attention from the presidential candidates. Green party candidate Ralph Nader will visit the Twin Cities Tuesday, and Wednesday Texas Governor George W. Bush will make a long-awaited appearance. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
October 27, 2000 - A new poll released by St. Cloud State University indicates that DFL candidate Mark Dayton's lead over Republican Rod Grams is widening in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race. The poll of about 600 adults from October 14 to the 24th showed 47 percent of "likely voters" supported Dayton, while 30 percent supported Grams. During a debate for U.S. senate candidates in Hopkins Thursday, Grams continued his approach of trying to put Dayton on the defensive, saying many details in Dayton's proposals aren't defined. The candidates also had the opportunity to view, and respond to, their own television ads. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
October 25, 2000 - James Gibson, a soft-spoken software developer from Edina, walked in off the street to tell the leaders of the Independence Party he wanted to be their candidate for U.S. Senate. Party members weren't sure how to react to Gibson's request. Now, more than a year later, Governor Ventura's party's hopes of keeping major-party status depend on Gibson's candidacy. And Gibson has crafted a full-fledged campaign on a shoestring budget to take on two opponents with much more money: Republican incumbent Rod Grams and DFL department store heir Mark Dayton. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil has this profile of James Gibson.
October 23, 2000 - Minnesota's four major party candidates for U.S. Senate debated agriculture policy, as well as federal spending for nursing homes and the military, today at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato. Constitution Party candidate David Swan brought a radically different perspective to such now-familiar topics as social security, calling such government programs unconstitutional and saying they should be eliminated. Meanwhile DFL candidate Mark Dayton predicted a bitter conclusion to the Senate race, and Republican incumbent Rod Grams defended his use of negative ads. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
October 20, 2000 - Candidates in the fourth congressional district took the stage at the College of St. Catherine's in St. Paul Thursday, to debate domestic issues from higher education to the dealth penalty. D-F-Ler Betty McCollum, Republican Linda Runbeck and Independence Party candidate Tom Foley are running to replace Congressman Bruce Vento, in an unpredictable three-way race that has attracted national attention. Despite the high stakes, the tone of the debate was polite, with the candidates only rarely questioning one another on their respective records. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
October 19, 2000 - Minnesota's three major U.S. Senate candidates tackled social and fiscal issues -- and their own campaign spending and attack ads -- Wednesday in their first televised debate. N-B-C's Tim Russert helped moderate the debate, which took place in Minneapolis before an audience convened by the Minnesota Meeting organization. D-F-Ler Mark Dayton and Independence Party candidate James Gibson were often in agreement on social issues, while Dayton and Republican Rod Grams were predictably at odds, particularly when debating one another's campaign tactics. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
October 17, 2000 - Third, fourth and fifth-party candidates for U.S. Senate had their say in a half-hour debate Monday on Twin Cities public television. Senate candidates from the Grassroots, Socialist workers, Independence, Constitution and Libertarian parties took audience questions and probed one anothers' views. Issues ranged from eliminating the federal income tax to forming a "workers' government" and cutting back corporate welfare. On the international front, the candidates showed greater unity in wanting the U.S. OUT of most foreign affairs. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.