September 16, 1998 - It's been only 24 hours since the primary election campaign ended, and already the general election campaign is shaping up as an old fashioned battle between business and labor. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: Norm Coleman wasted little time taking his campaign straight to his core constituency -- business people -- and bringing along the best salesman to make the pitch: Governor Carlson: ((Carlson: My exp in politics has been this -- it's kind of like a first date -- the two parties sorta keep their distance and jockey around for awhile... and by the end of the date it's a wrestling match. I'd rather start the wrestling match right off the bat!)) The Governor addressed a friendly crowd of busin
September 16, 1998 - After an exceptionally long primary campaign with an unusually large number of contenders, the DFL party has narrowed its field of gubernatorial candidates to one: Attorney General Skip Humphrey. Strategists for the Republican candidate, St Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, say now that they know who the opposition is, their campaign will intensify. Minnesota Public Radio's reports: Campaign workers say they've had a hard time focusing the voters' attention in the last few months, with seven major candidates vying for column-inches and air time. Now that it's down to three, Coleman strategist Chris Georgacas says the REAL campaign begins:
September 15, 1998 - (FOR TUES M.E.) It's primary election day in Minnesota. The biggest prize at stake today is the DFL nomination for Governor, a five-way race that still seems very much up-for-grabs. But there are other races on the party ballots, some of them just as hard to call as the DFL gubernatorial nomination. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: A strategist on one of the leading gubernatorial campaigns recently complained that he's had a tough time getting the public to pay attention to his candidate. He says people seem too distracted by the Clinton scandal, the Northwest airlines strike and baseball's homerun record to pay attention to politics. But if a big-name candidate for gove
September 14, 1998 - The DFL candidates for Governor took aim at Attorney General Skip Humphrey last night in the final debate of the primary campaign. Humphrey is leading in the polls, but his lead has shrunk a little. Now the other four candidates are looking for opportunities to bring him down further. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: It's a rule of thumb in politics that if you're trying to identify the front-runner in a race, you should look for the candidate who's deflecting the most attacks. At the DFL gubernatorial debate sponsored by MPR last night, that person was Skip Humphrey. Ted Mondale threw the first punch by accusing Humphrey of being too ready to promise more tax cuts and programs than the state can afford.
September 8, 1998 - Minnesota voters go to the polls one week from today (TUES 9/8) in this year's primary election... or at least, SOME Minnesotans will go to the polls. Voter turnout has been very low in other states this year, and the pundits are predicting the same here... a turnout that might dip below twenty percent. Strategists at all five DFL gubernatorial campaigns are assuming a low voter turnout, and some think it might even cause an upset in the governor's race. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: ((montage of phone bank callers: "Hello, I'm calling for Skip Humphrey, etc.)) If you've received one of these phone calls lately, your name is probably on a list of likely DFL primary voters. The DFL is the only party with a real primary contest for governor, and the five campaigns are fighting tooth-and-nail over a relatively small minority of Minnesota
September 8, 1998 - Minnesota Public Radio's "Campaign 98." From now to the primary in September, we're presenting in-depth interviews with candidates on the issues. This week we're focusing on the environment. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste talks with DFLer and former state senator TED MONDALE: BACK ANNOUNCE: You can hear the next segment of our Campaign 98 focus on the issues tomorrow on Morning Edition when when Karen Louise Boothe talks with Mark Dayton about the environment. Ted Mondale says the government agencies charged with
September 7, 1998 - Minnesota Public Radio's "Campaign 98." From now to the primary in September, we're presenting in-depth looks at the where the candidates stand on the big issues. This week we're focusing on the environment. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste talks with the Republican endorsed candidate, St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman. BACK ANNOUNCE: You can hear the next segment of our Campaign 98 focus this afternoon on All Things Considered, when Karen Louise Boothe talks with Mike Freeman about the environment.
September 7, 1998 - The last day of the Minnesota State Fair is more than just one last opportunity to walk around in public eating fried cheese on sticks. Today is the culmination of the 4-H livestock competitions, when all the prize-winning animals go up for auction. The bids are well above market price, and the money is split between local charities and the 4-H kids who raised the winning animals.
September 3, 1998 - An MPR Special presenting interviews with all seven major party gubernatorial candidates on crime and recent crime reports, followed by listener reaction to the candidates. Program begins with brief reports on the various candidates.
September 2, 1998 - Minnesota Public Radio's "Campaign 98." From now to the primary in September, we're presenting in-depth interviews with candidates on the issues. This week we're focusing on CRIME. In this segment, Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste talks with DFLer and former state senator TED MONDALE: BACK ANNOUNCE: You can hear the next segment of our Campaign 98 focus on the issues this afternoon on All Things Considered, when Karen Louise Boothe talks with Mark Dayton about crime prevention. To Ted Mondale, the upsurge in violent crim