October 16, 2000 - Minnesota's three major U.S. Senate candidates held a debate in Duluth Sunday, answering questions posed by an audience at the College of St. Scholastica. In the first debate outside the Twin Cities, Republican incumbent Rod Grams, DFL candidate Mark Dayton and Independence party candidate James Gibson squared off on issues that haven't gotten much attention in the campaign, dealing with the environment and the use of federal lands. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
September 29, 2000 - Third party presidential candidates held a debate in St. Paul Thursday night, although Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan, the nation's highest profile third-party candidates, didn't attend. Governor Ventura welcomed the presidential candidates from the Natural Law, Libertarian and Constitution parties, thanking them for giving voters more options in November. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
September 28, 2000 - The open seat in the Fourth Congressional District in St. Paul was already drawing national attention as Republicans prepared to test their strength in historic Democrat territory. The entrance of former Ramsey County attorney Tom Foley as the Independence Party candidate in the race has heightened that interest, and thrown a political wild card into the mix. Foley's candidacy will test the appeal of Governor Jesse Ventura's Independence Party, and provide a third choice to Republican and Democratic candidates who Foley terms too extreme for most voters. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
September 28, 2000 - Rabbi Bernard Raskas has been wrestling with thorny questions of politics and faith for the past fifty years, as a rabbi at St. Paul's Temple of Aaron Congregation, and as a scholar and teacher. A new book entitled "Seasons of the Mind" brings together his collected writings from newspapers around the country. And next month Raskas will be designated "rabbi laureate" by his temple, as only the second rabbi in the country to serve a congregation for fifty years. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
September 25, 2000 - Rabbi Bernard Raskas has been wrestling with thorny questions of politics and faith for the past fifty years, as a rabbi at St. Paul's Temple of Aaron Congregation, and as a scholar and teacher. A new book entitled "Seasons of the Mind" brings together his collected writings from newspapers around the country. And next month Raskas will be designated "rabbi laureate" by his temple, as only the second rabbi in the country to serve a congregation for fifty years. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
September 18, 2000 - Nearly every prominent D-F-Ler in the state appeared at a "unity" party in Hugo, Minnesota this weekend, as party officials rallied the troops -- and former adversaries -- after the latest fractious D-F-L primary season. Mark Dayton's opponents in the U.S. Senate primary came together to sing his praises after the party's central committee endorsed him. Party officials also tried to smooth things over in the race for Bruce Vento's congressional seat, after a primary campaign that left harder feelings behind. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
September 15, 2000 - Governor Jesse Ventura plunged wholeheartedly into the fall campaign season Thursday, making good on his pledge to help build the Independence Party after the primary election. Ventura stumped for the party's congressional candidates in the morning, and by evening he was working a crowd in Fridley, trying to help the city's D-F-L mayor become an Independence Party legislator. The governor will make appearances on behalf of three MORE Independence Party candidates this weekend, as part of his effort to get some legislative allies at the state Capitol. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
September 13, 2000 - Software developer Jim Gibson says as the Independence party candidate for U.S. Senate, he can chart a centrist path between incumbent Republican Rod Grams and the winner of Tuesday's D-F-L primary, Mark Dayton. Gibson, the Indpendence party's endorsed candidate for the senate, easily beat his opponents to clinch his party's nomination. But Gibson says he faces an uphill challenge both in raising the money he needs to compete, and in getting equal treatment among Republicans and Democrats. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
September 12, 2000 - Governor Ventura made what he said was a welcome stop home in the Twin Cities Monday as part of his nationwide book tour. He signed copies of his newest book, "Do I Stand Alone?," for approximately an hour and a half and greeted a long line of admirers. Ventura says his latest book is about his political philosophy, while his first book, "Aint Got Time to Bleed," was more autobiographical. Five days into his book tour, the governor says he's been well received around the country. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.
September 11, 2000 - Differences in healthcare and farm policy were among the distinctions the four major D-F-L candidates for U.S. Senate drew as they met for one last debate before the primary elections. Onstage Sunday at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, the candidates voiced AGREEMENT on many issues, continuing a trend of consensus in this year's campaign that has made differences between the candidates hazy. Odds are long on Tuesday for the candidate with the least funding, Jerry Janezich, who used the debate to make an impassioned appeal for campaign finance reform. Minnesota Public Radio's Amy Radil reports.