August 25, 2000 - ** Note host outcue ** D-F-L Senate candidate Mark Dayton has developed a solid lead over his primary opponents, according to a statewide poll for Minnesota Public Radio, the St. Paul Pioneer Press and KARE TV. Dayton continues to have the highest name recognition of the D-F-L candidates, and is as well known as Republican Senator Rod Grams. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
August 25, 2000 - D-F-L Senate candidate Mark Dayton spent nearly three million dollars on his campaign in the past seven and a half weeks. That's nearly twice the spending of his nearest financial competitor among the D-F-L Senate candidates. Dayton used the bulk of the money on television ads that have been saturating the airwaves and may have led to his recent bump in the polls. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
August 23, 2000 - With less than three weeks left until the September primary, D-F-L Senate candidate Rebecca Yanisch is out with a new television ad. She joins DFL'ers Mike Ciresi and Mark Dayton, whose campaigns have gobbled up huge chunks of television airtime over the past few weeks. In the latest in our series of Ad Watches, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
August 23, 2000 - ** note host outcue ** As more and more campaign ads fill the airwaves this election year, a couple of candidates are trying different approaches to cut through the clutter. A commercial created by Minneapolis adman Bill Hillsman for Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader parodies a popular MasterCard ad campaign, and a Fourth District Congressional candidate makes fun of herself in a series of humorous radio ads. In the latest in our series of Ad Watches, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
August 16, 2000 - Both Republicans and Democrats are aggressively courting African American voters this year, from the national conventions to outreach efforts in Minnesota's central cities. The Minnesota Republican Party formed a black Republican coalition this year, and D-F-L'ers are working hard to register African American voters. But it's clear from several recent events that bridging the gap between politicians and urban voters is no easy task. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
August 14, 2000 - The lawyer who led Minnesota's successful lawsuit against big tobacco is tackling what some may see as an even bigger challenge - Minnesota's US Senate race. Mike Ciresi hopes to win a competitive four-way DFL Senate primary, and go on to beat Republican incumbent Rod Grams. Ciresi has money, a creative ad campaign, a good grasp of the issues and some big name support. But he's never run for office before, and must convince DFL primary voters that he's the best Democrat to take on Grams. In the third in our series of candidate profiles, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum looks at the career and campaign of Mike Ciresi...
August 8, 2000 - A Minnesota Supreme Court candidate WILL be allowed to use his wife's maiden name on the ballot. Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer today (TUESDAY) ruled that Greg Wersal can use Carlson as his middle name. Wersal's opponent - Justice James Gilbert - complained that Wersal's use of a well-known Scandinavian name could give Wersal an unfair advantage. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
August 4, 2000 - Governor Ventura took his weekly radio show on location today (FRIDAY) to focus on the plight of homeless veterans. He pulled in some big names to help him talk about the issue - actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, television journalist Maria Schriver and Miss America Heather French. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
August 3, 2000 - As Republicans wrap up their national convention in Philadelphia and Democrats prepare to hold theirs in another week, Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura ratcheted up his criticism of the two major parties. During a call-in show on Minnesota Public Radio, Ventura blasted Republicans for inviting a pro-wrestler to address the convention, and attacked the corporate-sponsored festivities found at both events. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
August 1, 2000 - The DFL's endorsed US Senate candidate - Jerry Janezich - has finally joined his major primary opponents in running ads. Janezich is starting with radio ads, weeks after three of his opponents began television advertising. One of them - Michael Ciresi - first started running T-V ads in February, and began another big television ad buy this week. In the latest in our series of Ad Watches, Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum asks analyst Dean Alger to review the Janezich and Ciresi ads....