(00:00:00) From Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Greta Cunningham Walter Mondale says, he'll accept the Democratic nomination to run for the US Senate if Minnesota Democrats nominated him Mondale made his intent known in a letter to State dfl party chair Mike Earl Anson, Minnesota Democrats are expected to officially make that offer later today Mondale would enter the race with just six days left until election day replacing wellstone who died in a plane crash last week Governor. Jesse Ventura says, he's so upset by the partisan tone of the Paul wellstone Memorial that he may appoint an independent to fill wellstone senate seat. Mentor says, he walked out of last night's service because he was upset by its partisan. Tenor Mentor says first lady Terry Ventura was driven to Tears by a speech from wellstones friend Rick on Ventura who is a member of the independence party has said he was leaning toward appointing a Democrat to fill wellstone seat until a few new Senators sworn in but during a radio interview this morning. He said he'll now try to find an independent to fill wellstone see between election day. End of the current session of Congress a new poll in today Star Tribune newspaper finds former vice president Walter Mondale leading by eight percentage points in the US Senate race over Republican Norm Coleman. Larry Jacobs is a political science professor at the University of Minnesota. He says the campaign should intensify over the next six days before the (00:01:17) election. The race is so partisan as you can see the last couple days, even with the the memorial service is going on that there are just part of you know, Democrats Republicans and both sides were dug in there's a handful or so of Independence or up for grabs and we're just seeing that handful kind of slide back and (00:01:36) forth. Coleman has resumed his campaign and is making several stops around Minnesota today right now in Duluth. It's overcast and 30 degrees in the Twin Cities overcast skies and 37. That's a news update. I'm Greta Cunningham. Thanks Greta is 6 minutes now past (00:01:51) 11:00. (00:01:56) And good morning. Welcome to midday on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary eichten. Glad you could join us. Well, no doubt about it with the election less than a week away. The campaigns are in full swing. Once again candidates are out and about today campaign ads are coming back and voters still have to decide who to vote for next Tuesday. Well today on midday our meet the candidates series resumes. We're going to be focusing on the two major races here in Minnesota over the noon hour will focus on the race for governor. But to begin this hour we're going to focus on the race for the US Senate tonight the dfl Central Committee will meet to formally nominate Walter Mondale to replace Paul wellstone as the party's US Senate candidate as Greta was mentioning a Star Tribune, Minnesota poll conducted on Monday in published today found that Mondale is apparently entering the race with a slight lead over Republican candidate Norm Coleman, but 11% of (00:02:52) those (00:02:52) Surveyed did not express a preference for a candidate indicating that the election margin next Tuesday could be razor threat thin according to that poll 98 percent of minnesotans recognized mondale's name, but since he hasn't served in elective office since 1980 minnesotans may not be all that familiar with his career Minnesota public radio's. Dan Olson has that part of the story Walter Mondale served 13 years in the United States Senate. He was vice president in the Carter Administration for four years. He ran for president in 1984, but lost in a landslide to Ronald Reagan in the 1990s Mondale served four years as US ambassador to Japan during the Clinton Administration. You never have exactly your way around here. (00:03:39) Sometimes you're terribly disappointed (00:03:41) when he gave this interview in 1973 Mondale had been a senator for nearly a decade. He had focused on civil rights and child welfare legislation. The war in Vietnam was raging and had sapped the Spirit Mondale first a supporter had like many Americans become an opponent of the war. He said life in the Senate's world with the ingredients for cynicism and despair but he said being a senator was too important to succumb to those (00:04:05) emotions. This is the body which has something to say about War and (00:04:10) Peace. About the chances of Justice in America about our (00:04:16) environment about practically every aspect of American Life (00:04:22) President Lyndon Johnson's economic strategy of guns and butter simultaneously paying for a war and an array of domestic social programs ran up a huge bill the US economy was teetering in 1976, Georgia Governor. Jimmy Carter won the parties nod for Democratic presidential candidate. He selected Mondale for a vice presidential running mate it signaled a set of Firsts 1976 marked the first-ever televised debate between vice presidential candidates. (00:04:50) We need a government that works and we need a government that cares. And once again, we have to get back to work on education on Hell on housing on the environment on energy and we need a foreign policy that once again reflects the values and the beliefs of the American (00:05:11) people. President Carter gave vice president Mondale responsibilities Beyond those of anyone else who held the office in modern times Mondale became the president's closest advisor on domestic policy human rights ranked high on the Carter Mondale foreign policy agenda the cold war with the former Soviet Union dominated in a 1979 speech vice president Mondale stumped for support of a treaty with the Soviets to reduce the burgeoning stockpiles of nuclear weapons, (00:05:39) after 20 years of public life. What worries me most above all (00:05:44) about the life our kids (00:05:46) and their children will live. I have no trouble telling you what it is. And that is the fear of a nuclear (00:05:54) Holocaust President Carter despatched Mondale to trouble spots around the world in 1980 South Africa's Nelson. Mandela was still in prison. It would be years before South Africa's white ruled government recognized the civil and political rights of its black majority Mondale told the Is white LED government the US would no longer support them in a 1980 interview Mondale said African leaders welcomed the u.s. Position toward South Africa. They understand that we've not only imposed sanctions against military sales, but we went beyond the UN resolution and impose sanctions against the sale of materials for police and security forces and the rest as Carter and Mondale prepared their bid for a second term in 1980 Mondale told Democrats at their National Convention in New York City. They offered a clear choice to Republicans who had met a month earlier in Detroit (00:06:44) isolated in a bubble of privilege from the city that hosted it. Hey comfortable convention composed of America's wealthy told us they symbolized the nation a malapportioned convention with the cities were denied their share of the delegates told they told us they symbolize (00:07:05) democracy after losing their bid for a second term to Ronald Reagan and the father of the current President Carter and Mondale began new careers Mondale became a private practice attorney who lectured frequently in his 1984 presidential bid Mondale put the first woman on a national ticket. He asked Geraldine Ferraro to be his running mate. Once again, President Reagan won in a landslide one of mondale's memorable campaign moments came as he tried to explain to voters the difference between he and Reagan Mondale said, let's tell the truth. Mr. Reagan will raise taxes. And so will I he won't tell you I just did. President Reagan won in a landslide. Once again Mondale returned to private life practicing law and lecturing well ambassador to Japan Mondale experience the affection and the antipathy many countries have towards the United States He said people in other countries are often of two minds. They had once admire and despise the United States for its wealth and power. (00:08:04) And so how we deal with the rest of the world the good sense and decency that we show toward others the example, we provide a being decent and non-discriminatory and fair and the rest is very important to our ability to influence the rest of the world (00:08:25) in 1991 Mondale supported the war against Iraq in recent public statements Mondale has condemned Saddam Hussein's regime a few days after the September 11th terrorist attacks Mondale stood with tens of thousands of other minnesotans at a rally at the Capitol in st. Paul. He said the country should hold back from striking in anger and should take time to learn who the enemy was. He recounted the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979. Iranian revolutionaries seized dozens of Americans and held them captive for more than a (00:08:55) year. We spent days thinking about ways that we could punish them for that uncivilized act and get our people home, but we couldn't find a single Target that we could use that wouldn't kill thousands of innocent people (00:09:14) and risk the lives of our (00:09:16) hostages. You can get into fiendish (00:09:18) dilemmas here Walter Mondale describes himself as an old-fashioned New Deal Democrat. He's been away from the center of congressional politics for decades even so political scientist Stephen Smith director of the Whedon bomb Center at Washington University in st. Louis said should he decide to run and if voters sent Mondale back to the Senate he'd be regarded as an elder Statesman. However, Smith says the Senate has changed since Mondale was there 28 years ago. It's much more difficult to assemble coalition's to pass laws and it's much less collegial than during. Mondale's time (00:09:51) today many of these people are no more than acquaintances, even if that so he'd be put at a disadvantage. He's not going to be an immediate bridge builder. He's going to have to learn the Senate a (00:10:03) new if selected by the dfl Central Committee to fill the vacancy on the ballot created by the death of senator Paul wellstone and if elected Mondale would be the seventh former vice president including his mentor Hubert Humphrey to return to the United States Senate Dan Wilson, Minnesota Public Radio in a letter today to the dfl state party chair Walter Mondale said, I am writing to inform you that if nominated I will accept the dfl nomination for the US Senate tonight. I look forward to the dfl is blessing and help to DFS blessing and help to carry the campaign that Paul began to Victory on Tuesday. Mr. Mondale ruled out discussing politics until after last night's ceremony honoring the wellstones. And as far as we know he has not commented publicly on many of the issues that have dominated the US Senate campaign this year. For example, the looming war with Iraq or how to show her up the social security system or whether to make permanent repeal or scale back the federal income tax cuts, but Mondale has appeared on Minnesota Public Radio on several occasions in the last few years commenting on several broader issues. And we thought you'd be interested in hearing what he had to say. Now before we get started. We should note that Walter Mondale served on Minnesota public radio's board in recent years, but he officially resigned from the board yesterday. Well, okay back in January of 2000 Mondale was in our Studios for Midday and among other things discussed his views on the role of government. Here's part of what he had to (00:11:39) say, you know, I'm I'm an old Democrat who believes that there's a role for government to bring about a more hopeful and just Society government can be a problem. We have to work on it where it is, but those things we must do together say like public education protecting the environment providing decent Transportation protecting Americans from violence the role of protecting our government in this main our nation and these difficult times advancing science and so on there is an essential role. It seems to me for a decent America that involves the use of intelligent government. We're all talking about, you know, the internet the revolution of the E channels and how this is changing our world. (00:12:43) It's good to remember. (00:12:45) I think that the internet was an idea cooked up in the defense department about 20 years ago through Government research a lot of the things the airplane and so on that we use a lot of the the hope for our future (00:13:04) is built. Of course, (00:13:06) basically on our own individual responsibility is always be but I believe there's a very important crucial role for our government helping all of us move forward to the future. I think I'm a little old fashioned that but as I look at today's problems, I don't think we can get where we want to go unless we continue to use government in an intelligent way. (00:13:33) There's an argument as you well know, mr. Vice president that as we move more and more into this Global society and so on that the role of National governments will become increasingly less important that that it will actually shrink because so many of these issues transcend National boundaries. And the rest you think that's true. (00:13:58) Well, I think it may change a lot in other words. No question that there's a fundamental change on going on to law now in the globalization of the economy that is far different than it was say 40 years ago. And this will call for changes in our economy in the world's (00:14:18) economy a different relationship between (00:14:20) National governments the rest of the world and so on I think the frustrations over that is what exploded in Seattle here a month or so ago a sense of helplessness about other problems that they're blaming on the International System. I think that direction towards globalization is inevitable and the test for America's to make certain we're the best in the world at it and I think we are right now, but let me just get back to this point about The role of government if there's one thing that's absolutely clear at least to me about our future it is that education. Teaching and training every Young American to be his or her best investing in science and technology and research and making certain that the United States is out ahead is fundamental crucial to our future and while a lot of that is in the private sector fundamental part of it is what we do together through our schools public schools and private schools to but we have employers all over Minnesota and throughout the United States that are short of workers can't find particularly the skilled field but not just there and there's a mismatch between what we need to grow and compete in the world and what is being produced by our schools and education and that's a big gap that will hold us back and this this is a needless Gap. We should be doing far better in those areas that we are. Now everything would be more hopeful society would be more fair and we would all be better (00:16:06) off during his years in the Senate during his years as vice president and later as ambassador to Japan Mondale devoted a lot of attention to u.s. Foreign policy about a month before the 9/11 attack last year also on. Midday Mondale talked about America's role in the world. (00:16:26) This is just a comment earlier gentleman made the comment that the United States has committed a million and one atrocities since World War Two and I just wanted to say that every country makes mistakes and I think the United States now granted I'm 20 years old and still pretty idealistic but I think the United States has done a lot more good than evil. And if there's a country that's made fewer mistakes or done more good or is it better place to live? Anyone is I mean, no one's stopping anyone from going to live there. I think that everyone who is here, even the people who criticize the United States would still rather live here than anywhere else. Amen, you know I spent a long long life. In public affairs. I've been in the Senate I've been in the white house. I've been in in Tokyo and in our own state capital and I went into public life because I grew up in a family that said that you know, each person has a responsibility to be helpful and to try to implement values of decency in the world. And that's what I did. That's why I that that's why I spent nearly 45 years in public life. And when I hear people say that America does nothing but rotten things that were always on the wrong side of everything I say, that's not the America. I see we have made mistakes. We have been at wrong once in a while. I know that but we have because we're a free Society. Ability to correct course when we make mistakes and I think our record is pretty good. (00:18:10) Does America tend to be more self critical than other nations or is this pretty typical around the world? (00:18:17) Well, you could hear today from these questions that people don't mind raising issues and that's that's a valuable thing. We need to get these criticisms and here I'm going to ask whether they work. I think that we as judged by how Nations conduct Affairs. I think we we are do a pretty good job of debating and analyzing our issues. One of the questioners talked about the Kyoto treaty National missile defense energy questions, and all of those issues have been very much at the center of congressional interest recently. They've been hearings on it. They've been debates on it there have been bills. There's been a lot of discussion on television and so on. So I think I think that's pretty good. But I do think once in a while we ought to be careful about appearing to know too much. They have too many answers in some of these discussions. I think it's better to listen for a while before we start talking to show that while we are the richest most powerful. Democratic Society and advanced technological Society in the world nevertheless. We know that we've got a lot to learn from others and I think I think that that sense of respect for what others might have to tell us is something we've got to constantly remind ourselves to do (00:20:00) that was Walter Mondale speaking last year before the September 11th attack later last year about three months after the attack Mondale was asked at a Westminster Town Hall Forum whether US policies were in any way responsible for the (00:20:16) attack. I think one of the refreshing things about September 11th of any good could come out of it is that we started to think less politically. Let's put in a partisan way and more. What about those things that we share together and that pull us together as Americans. I don't think what happened on September 11th has anything to do with American domestic partisanship. This was an attack on Americans and it requires an American response and I hope we'll keep that up. Secondly. I do not think we deserved what they did to us. I know we've got to think around about how we can create a better environment how we can deal with people's concerns elsewhere in the world. There's how we can rebuild Afghanistan how we can prevent failed States one of the key things. I think we have to learn here is that Bin Laden was run out of Saudi Arabia. He was run out of the sedan. I think he was in Albania for a while and they ran him out and he finally went to Afghanistan because it was the Fake place for him to hide and do his Dirty Work a kind of a privilege Sanctuary for the world's great coward where he can attack and hide but in order to do that, he needed a country that had failed where the government would not find him too much. So we have to deal with that as well all but none of this is partisanship and I don't as much as we need to look in these other things. I have trouble accepting any theory that says that something about what we did. That cause entitled us to kind of treatment we got, you know, we're not blameless. But the last war we fought was in Kosovo protecting people of the Islamic faith. I spent a lot of my career at negotiating with President Carter the Camp David Accords, which was designed to bring some kind of peace and stability into the Middle East. We've got what six million fellow citizens of Islamic faith. We haven't been a bad country. We haven't been mean and cruel to others. We haven't been perfect, but I don't believe we deserve a minute of this and I have some trouble keeping my temper when I talk about (00:22:52) it. (00:22:54) During that same speech at Westminster Mondo Mondo also warned about the danger of limiting civil liberties in the name of National Security that concern had surfaced years before during his career in the Senate back in the 70s Mondale played a key role in cracking down and abuses by us intelligence agencies. He recalled those days in a Mondale lecture on public service Forum that was held in 2000 (00:23:20) in the early 70s. We saw the struggle between faith and fear played out and key historic events are painful National debate over the war in Vietnam. The revelation of the government's public deceit in support of the war and the Watergate scandal which for the first time forced the resignation of an American president. By this time I had been in the US Senate for almost 10 years. I had just abandoned my race for the presidency to widespread Applause and and I was now back full-time in the Senate and slowly but surely seniority had become my friend. These were some of the most productive years in my career. It was during this time that I led the fight to reform the Senate filibuster rule chaired hearings on disadvantaged children, which led to the adoption of the Child and Family Services act later beaded my by my dear friend. Mr. Dixon and I wrote my book the accountability of power toward a more responsible presidency. It's sold about four copies, but in and I tried to Grapple with my alarm over the steady downpour of government deceit Then came the shocking news disclosed by Seymour Hersh in the New York Times accusing the CIA of massive spy operations aimed at American citizens here at home reports of other abuses soon followed and it ignited a firestorm of protest. I remember thinking for the first time that our democracy could be at risk. I believe that and I believe now that the threats from the Soviet Union were real and very dangerous. I believe there were a few Americans very few who wished the Soviet Union to prevail. But what many people feared but what was never true was that large numbers of Americans were allied with the Soviet Union against our own country. This irrational fear led many people to believe that to protect our democracy. We had to violate some of its most basic principles. Against these fears was faith faith in the rule of law faith that when America protects the personal Liberties of its citizens. It is stronger not weaker faith that when America honors its Constitution. It is more secure and Powerful in the world and not less against these fears was the belief that our public officers even those who must operate in secret must have a the law. As I read her story, I wondered what had become of these most basic principles and I was not alone in January of 75 senator for story of Rhode Island moved that the Senate create a select committee on government operations to investigate these intelligence agencies. I don't believe that any of us were out to weaken the FBI or the other intelligence agencies in a world of crime and terrorism and foreign adversaries. We need these agencies and we need the best officers we can find I have worked with many of them over the years. They are gifted and committed they often risked their lives for us and they deserve our respect. The committee we created no one is the church committee for its chairman. Frank church was really an unprecedented thing. It marked the first time in the history of this nation or any other that intelligence agencies would be subjected to this kind of thorough investigation by an outside (00:27:17) Source Walter Mondale speaking in 2000 as we said Mondale has not directly commented on many of the issues that have dominated the US Senate campaign this year, but in recent years, he was a strong supporter of campaign Finance reform efforts and he is consistently received strong support from organized labor despite his strong support for global trade during his Senate career. He was also noted as a vocal supporter of the Civil Rights Movement tonight, the dfl Central Committee is expected to officially nominate Walter Mondale to replace Paul wellstone on next week's election ballot. We will have live coverage of that Central Maybe meeting as part of a special campaign report starting at 7 o'clock tonight. Also, we should notice part of that coverage will be hearing from Republican Senate candidate Norm Coleman who is flying around the state today restarting his campaign will begin that special coverage at 7:00 right now. We're going to break for some headlines and then we'll hear from Canada Coleman as he launched that fly around this morning. We'll also be talking with Senate candidates Jim Moore and retry Como. Hi, it's Linda said of Casper this week. We've the last word on buying olive oil from Deb krasner author of the flavors of olive oil. It's a tasting guide David rosengarten says forget prosciutto and head for Spain and the Stern's are at Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington DC join us. That's the Splendid Table the show for people who love to eat Saturday at 1 in Sunday at 3:00 on Minnesota Public Radio. Okay time for some news headlines. Here's got a Cunningham Greta. Thanks Gary. Good morning. As you've been discussing on midday today former vice president Walter Mondale has written a letter to the chairman of the state's dfl party saying he will accept the nomination to run for the US senate seat. If Minnesota Democrats nominate him party officials are expected to officially make that offer later today Mondale wrote that he will pick up the campaign where wellstone left off quote with a heavy heart. But with a great hope for the future. Well Stone died in a plane crash Friday and Mondale was immediately considered the favorite to take his place Republican Challenger Norm. Coleman is on a campaign swing throughout Minnesota today Governor. Jesse Ventura says, he was so upset by the partisan nature of last night's memorial service for wellstone that he is now in favor of appointing an independent to fill the vacant US senate seat Ventura says, he was most offended by a speech by wellstone friend Rick Khan at the service Conn asked the crowd to help us win this senate election for Paul Wells. Own Mentor said the comments drove first lady Terry Ventura to tears Mentor didn't mention any names of Independence. He might appoint been tourist pick will fill wellstone seat until Tuesday's election results are certified the prosecutor in Montgomery County, Maryland says, his county has the moral and emotional authority to try the sniper case first the state's attorney says a federal trial would disappoint County residents and would deny victims relatives their day in Court Montgomery County has filed six murder charges against John Allen Muhammad and John Lee Malvo, the suspects also face murder charges in Virginia and are charged in a killing last month in Alabama yesterday, the federal government filed Federal weapons and extortion charges against Muhammad. Israel's coalition government may have slipped out of prime minister Ariel Sharon's hands today. The labor party is ready to bail out of the Coalition after an intense last-ditch talks over a budget dispute failed the apparent breakup could mean Israel will have to hold early elections possibly within 90 days. The forecast for Minnesota today calls for cooler conditions with partly cloudy skies. Statewide some periods of light snow are possible in the southwest with light rain mixed with snow in the Southeast highs today will range from 28 in the north to near 40 in the South right now in Pipestone still reporter some light snow in 25 degrees. It's overcast in Duluth and 31 and in the Twin Cities some light scattered drizzle with a temperature of 37 Gary. That's a look at the latest news. Thanks Greta 25 minutes before twelve. This is midday on Minnesota Public Radio reminder over the noon hour. We'll be talking with the dfl candidate for governor. Roger mole during this hour amid day. We're focusing on the revived race for the US Senate here in Minnesota tonight. The dfl is expected to get a formerly get its new candidate for the Senate Walter Mondale. Meanwhile Republican candidate former st. Paul Mayor Norm. Coleman is flying around the state today trying to Rally his supporters. He began his day at the downtown st. Paul (00:31:46) Airport. Thank you. Thank you. Boy minnesotans get up early in the morning. Okay. I got it. Some say that there are tears in the evening and then Joy comes in the morning. We have we have grieved. We have suffered great loss but now it is time to get back to work now faculty and and in a upbeat and positive and hopeful and engaging and embracing way. We are going to run this campaign for the next six days and we're going to do it. We're going to do it by the way and in many ways the way we've done it. We're going to work hard. We're going to work hard over the next 60 II long ago learned in my 27 years in Minnesota your work for everything you get known hands you anything your work for we're going to work for it. This campaign is this campaign is about the future of Mike. You're right the future is now that's what this campaign is about. And the future is about it's about it's about a families. It's about our moms and dads. My dad's right here generation that gave us so much. It's about our kids who are here. It's about jobs. It's about cutting taxes is about improving education. It's about doing all the things that we have done that we have done as mayor in the last eight years as we've articulated on this campaign Trail. That's what minnesotans are looking for. That's what they are looking for their questions and I got it. I got to say this, you know, do we face a daunting task? Well, absolutely, you know David my favorite quote quote David Ben-Gurion first prime minister of Israel, by the way, I had this quote in my mind all the time and we working to bring back the NHL all the time whenever there was a challenge that seemed insurmountable. Anybody doesn't believe in miracles is not a Illest, okay. I am I am a realist and I realistically know and understand because I've heard I've been out there. I've been out there. I've been I've been to every corner of the state. I've been to the in the town's I've been in the neighborhoods. I did that for mayor for eight years in the capital city. I have listened I have listened. I know what the people of Minnesota need. I know what they desire they desire and they need someone who can work for them fight for them vigorously in this changing time in this 21st century in this post 9/11 World and deliver for them the opportunity for them and their families to be the best. They can be that has been our vision that has been our record that has been our reality and we are going to drive it home and every corner of this state none stop for the next six days. You know these have and I'll end where I started I got to tell you. I am very little uplifted. These are hard times. These have been hard times for have no doubt about that. This needs to be by the way (00:35:15) positive campaign. We need to be (00:35:17) positive. It's got to be just we got to uplift people here. We know that and and (00:35:22) so we got a you know work as hard as you can (00:35:26) pray as hard as you can but be confident in your hearts just just know just know that the people of Minnesota are wise. They're smart. They get it. They know what it means to they they know what it means to work for something. They know what it means to ask for their support. They know what it means to have somebody to deliver for them. These are Again difficult times. We live in the in a in a post 9/11 World where I gotta believe they're looking for leadership that can lift us up that will work tirelessly to make sure that they have a brighter a safer future we have Livid that in the capital city, we will deliver it in Minnesota and they will respond to people who say it will respond with the victory on November 5th. Thank you. (00:36:26) Armored Saint Paul Maher and Republican Senate candidate Norm Coleman speaking at the downtown st. Paul Airport early this morning joining us now is Coleman supporter former Minnesota Republican. Senator Rudy boschwitz, who was the Republican party's National committeeman back when Walter Mondale was serving in the US Senate and Senator boschwitz served in the Senate when Mondale was vice president Senator boschwitz. Thanks for joining us this morning (00:36:55) and I fully expected to run against the senator Mondale in 1978 when I began my planning for that but instead he became vice president. And so I ran didn't run against (00:37:08) him. Is it true as a mayor Coleman has suggested that running against Mondale is a little bit like having to run against Mount Rushmore. (00:37:20) Well, I didn't hear him say that I heard him say that the campaign is about the future and I quite agree with that. I don't think that that's not the way I would characterize it very frankly. (00:37:33) Do you think? Oh what in your mind? What is it that Norm Coleman can offer minnesotans that Mondale Camp. (00:37:40) Well minnesotans have to be very realistic and running to the Senate and being a senator's a practical matter in a question of seniority becomes very relevant. So wellstone Hadith neither Mondale or Coleman habit. Now, of course Mondale won't get it Coleman has the opportunity to get it both will be senior in their freshman classes when they go Mondale is a former on the Republican rules. At least Mondale would be senior because he's a former Senator, but but Coleman has the opportunity of being senior particularly if SE points him and he has also the ability to build up seniority over a period of years and terms which fits in reality does not but that means much I suppose after two terms wellstone was among the hundred Senators number 45 in seniority and it is at that point that you really have the ability to begin some really substantial work (00:38:51) center Bosch, (00:38:52) which is interesting that Senator Lautenberg was there last night and he was at together with senator bingaman from New Mexico and I allowed in Berg said to bingaman that you know, you're the only member of the class of 1982. That's when Lautenberg and bingaman first came to the Senate that bingaman's the only guy from 1982 who still there so seniority after the first term, you know, go Pretty quickly and you move up quite quickly. You know that puts Mondale just not not probably won't have a second (00:39:29) term is he too old for the job you two are about the same age. You're a little younger but I'm younger. Do you think he's too (00:39:36) old? Well, it's an older. There's no question that he's fully competent. You can do the job. But if seniority is an important element in the base in the business of getting things done in the Senate is no question about that Fritz is a realistic matter of probably doesn't have an opportunity to get it Norm Coleman does (00:40:01) China Bosch which thanks so much for joining us good talking with you. (00:40:04) Yes, I and II was I might say that I was not terribly offended by the the tone of last night rally. I was there not Rally but memorial service it turned out to be something of a rally. Frankly, I think that that's the way that the pull both of them would have would have enjoyed it most just time to remember those eight families because after all who are here and the tension is gone. They're going to have to go home in the evenings and deal without a mother without a father without a spouse. And so I have we have to all keep that in (00:40:43) mind. Thank you, sir. Appreciate your joining us by former Minnesota Republican. Senator Rudy boschwitz joining us on the line now is Independence Party's candidate for the US Senate Jim more missed more. Thanks for joining us this morning. Thank you Gary from a personal standpoint pretty difficult to try to start up your campaign again. Now, (00:41:04) well it is they think Paul coming out of this equation leaves a big hole. I mean, he was a champion for the Democratic party and their beliefs and and I was going in this race. I thought against the best of the best between him and Norman what the both the two parties had to offer. So it's Even race now what we're going to have Mondale come in and we'll address that (00:41:23) accordingly. What about Walter Mondale? (00:41:26) Well, it's you know, it's still someone that the Democratic party is putting forward. I'm you know, I don't change my campaign where I'm focusing on delivering issues and and talking about things that minnesotans want to hear about and giving concrete answers to questions of policy and fortunate that I don't have to shift any gears in this I just continue to do what I have been doing and I believe it has been resonating all along. So I'm trying to provide a clear alternative to what the two big parties have to offer. (00:41:53) What do you have in mind for these last frantic days before the election? (00:41:59) Well, we're going to do a lot of traveling. I think a lot of it's going to be dependent on what if any debates are going to be put together. We're advocating that we have a level of debates because I think that is the best way for citizens of Minnesota to compare and contrast the candidates of the four major parties. So I think it's important for us to have, you know, some level of debates, you know in these last few days to ensure Minnesotans have a real choice, but my efforts are going to be focused on running around as much as I can and meeting with as many people as I can to let him know what my message is about and we kept our schedule a little bit loose to have some flexibility to have these events. But you know, we still have plenty to do so, I think we'll run a good solid campaign. We've run a Clean Campaign just like we always have and and focus on giving again minnesotans a clear alternative choice to what the two big parties have to offer. (00:42:49) What is the essence of the gym more (00:42:51) message. The essence is that we've gone to you know Politics as Usual is not going to change unless we demand change and my message has been all along that we as minnesotans need to wake up and recognize that the interests that control this particularly the money interest in this game, really really Define the debate and I think it moves it away from what the average Minnesotan is thinking about and again, you know, minnesotans want to hear what your positions are whether it be an Iraq whether it be unsocial. Security, you know, whether it be on education or any number of issues. They want to know where candidates stand they don't want to hear 30-second sound bite. They want to find something concrete and something creative and I think all my positions and again, you know looking on my website more for Senate dot org, people can recognize that I put some a lot of thought into every position that I put forth. (00:43:41) Are you concerned what with all that's happened here in the last week that pretty much everyone will look at this as a two-man race Mondale and (00:43:51) Coleman. Well, you know over the weekend they clearly did because I deliberately removed myself from this. I thought that over the last four days we needed to remember the souls that we lost and as such I didn't have myself in the news cycle and you know, maybe that was a disadvantage but I truly believe it was the right and respectful thing to do. So from that standpoint, you know, there's been a lot more media hits so to speak and on the two candidates and they're focusing on those two, but we have four major party. State of Minnesota and minnesotans deserve to hear from all of them. And again, I think the debates will be the best way for them to hear what we all have to say and how we contrast ourselves particularly on issues of policy (00:44:31) Kim or thanks for joining us. Appreciate it. Thank you Gary Independence Party candidate for the u.s. Senate Jim more joining us. And on the line now is the green Party's candidate for the u.s. Senate rate trichome. Oh, mr. Trichome. Oh, thank you for joining (00:44:46) us (00:44:51) Ray. Can you can you speak a little more directly into your phone here? We're having trouble hearing you a little better. (00:44:57) Okay, I'll do my best. (00:44:58) Scary. There we go. Now we're not I think we're cooking now. Okay, cool. Well, I'll ask you the same question. I asked mr. Moore from a personal standpoint given all that's happened in the last week. Is it is it difficult to get back out on the campaign Trail today? (00:45:15) No, Gary. Riven incredibly sad times in say that it's difficult to get back into it is is really the act of understatement Paul and I were actually developing what I would call a working friendship. I saw him more as a friend and colleague than as an opponent even in the short debates in which we were engaged. (00:45:43) Well Walter Mondale is going to be the dfl candidate now apparently and he's not been involved in all the on-going debates and so on from what you know about Walter Mondale what to what distinctions would you draw between your stand on the issues and where he stands on the (00:46:01) issues? With all due respect to the vice president. We do need to keep this civil. I think there's I think there's some baggage that he's got to answer for for example, when he was vice president. It was on his watch that the National Security adviser zbigniew Brzezinski basically launched the wars that became the Afghan tragedy tragedy tragedy in Afghanistan which dragged on for 424. Well 23 years and I don't think again speaking respectfully. He's a nice gentleman and all the rest of it, but I don't see Walter Mondale vice president Mondale inheriting all of progressive metal. (00:46:56) You may have heard former Senator boschwitz a few minutes ago saying that one big problem is that Mondale is getting up in years. And as a consequence probably would not seek a second term. If you one which means that we wouldn't get the benefit. We in Minnesota get the benefit of any long-term success seniority in the Senate you think that's a legitimate (00:47:17) concern? No. No, I think I think you know, there are probably enough differences between the vice president and myself. So that we certainly don't have to talk about his age. I mean had Strom Thurmond you've had Carl month. I think in the House of Representatives. He was in there for good 50 years. I think I don't think age is a factor. I have a supporter who is 83 years old and has the energy of a couple 20 year olds know I'm going to have to reject that one. (00:47:52) What are you planning to do these next few days. We only have six days to election (00:47:57) night put out statements run around speak. We don't have the resources for go on signs and frankly. I think the people are getting tired of lawn signs and buttons and all of the paraphernalia of political campaign. I don't think we need that. I think I simply want to engage five million minnesotans about everything from agriculture to Single Payer Healthcare to women's rights. Reparation certainly teeth issues were putting out a statement on peace today as a matter of fact Gary which will say basically call for revivified United Nations the replacement of the Pentagon with the Department of peace and just a general change in mentality that we need to get away from exceptionalism. We need to begin to understand that we're part of the world were not the city on the hill old all the rest of the nonsense. We used to hear from the Reagan people. (00:49:05) Finally, mr. Try Como. I'd be remiss I guess if I didn't ask you about the poll that was published in the newspaper this morning the Star Tribune Minnesota poll, which indicates that both you and mr. Moore our way down there in the one the two percent range. Are you pretty discouraged about that or doesn't it bother you (00:49:25) number one? I don't take pills. For to Gary at this point, I have to be a little more can't little more blunt than I want to be. I think the media are the problem. I think the media is obviously are not happy to see the green party and the independence party out there and they're going to do what they can to discredit us. There's an old song from the 50s. You may remember called Daddy's home to stable. So it was the green party. We're not going away and I really have little respect for polls at this (00:49:59) point. Well, thank you so much for joining (00:50:02) us. Thank you, sir (00:50:04) retry Como, who is the Green Party candidate for the US Senate and just a reminder again that at seven o'clock tonight. We have a campaign special plan here on Minnesota Public Radio and look little cover more than just the senate race to be sure but that's going to be the focus because tonight of course the dfl Central Committee will be meeting to formally nominate Walter Mondale. Norm Coleman has a big rally planned this evening. And so we'll have coverage of that. Our commentators will be joining us. And so we hope you'll be able to tune in should be an interesting program seven o'clock tonight. We begin if you'd like lots more information about all the candidates check out our website, Minnesota Public Radio (00:50:48) dot-org (00:50:51) this week on A Prairie Home Companion. We're in st. Paul with my cousin from Kansas City, Iris, DeMent the singer and songwriter Dan Newton on the accordion with the shoob and Pat Donahue and Rich dworski and our fabulous radio acting team of sus guard Tim Russell Tom Keyes. And of course the (00:51:10) latest news from Lake (00:51:11) Wobegon all coming (00:51:12) up this week. (00:51:15) Listen to A Prairie Home Companion the Saturday afternoon at 5 and Sunday at noon on Minnesota public radio's news and information stations as a public service. Minnesota Public. Radio will be broadcasting short campaign statements from each of the seven candidates for Governor on our daily news programs today and tomorrow these statements which are also available on the Minnesota Public Radio website are an opportunity for the candidates to deliver an unfiltered message directly to (00:51:42) voters. My name is Booker T. Has the fourth a 25 year old independent candidate for governor of the state of Minnesota independent. Meaning that I want to represent you the voters as opposed to a political party machine a little bit about myself. I was born and raised in Minneapolis attended North High School graduated class of 1995 After High School. I went to college in Florida at Florida Southern College and obtained a degree in political science in criminal justice. I want to be the governor of the state of Minnesota because I feel strongly about the education of our children. I want to donate the first three years of my salary to the state's three poor school districts. I also want to eliminate the profile of learning because isn't costly and ineffective and ever I want to reallocate our Lottery funds to pay for education. I feel that that is a commitment that we need to make is voters of the state of Minnesota. Also. I am 25 years old if I had one thousand dollars for every year of my life. I would not have enough money to pay off my college loans. I feel that it is not appropriate or feasible to ask people to go to college if they're going to have to leave college with that much debt. So what I want to do is offer free college education everyone that graduates from Minnesota high school to go to the Minnesota college. Now, we can pay for this by taxing corporations that currently use our natural resources without paying form. Minnesota is one of only two states The country that currently does not tax corporations for using their natural resources with your help we can get this done the money that this will bring in will also help alleviate some of our budgetary deficiencies. Our state budget is suffering a serious budget deficit this year of 3.2 billion dollars. What I want to do is Governor to fix this budget problem is eliminate several governmental agencies that are not useful anymore. For example, the Metropolitan Council currently cost the taxpayers 374 million dollars a year now everything that the Met Council does other state agencies already do so. I feel that it is important that we get rid of the Met Council and save the taxpayers of the state of Minnesota three hundred seventy four million dollars a year. I also want to add a dollar fifty cents tax to cigarettes. Minnesota has not up to cigarette tax in 10 years and I feel that this revenue generated will help our state budget. I do not want to raise the gas tax because that affects small businesses in poor people more than it affects those people at the top vote Booker T in this next election vote for an independent candidate with an independent Voice who doesn't owe anything to anyone except the voters of Minnesota check us out at www.esc11.net calm and I just like to say that those who don't vote are slaves to those who do so get out and vote November 5th. Thanks. (00:55:11) That's Booker T. Ha just the fourth an independent candidate for governor, sir public radio has invited all the Minnesota candidates for Governor and Senate to present their views. You can hear the dfl candidate for governor Roger mole later today on All Things Considered. And all of the candidates all of the candidates statements are available on the campaign 2002 section of our website, Minnesota Public Radio dot-org. This is midday coming to you on Minnesota Public Radio. We're going to break here for some news headlines. And then when we get back our campaign coverage will continue to six days to election day and there's there's lots to learn yet about the candidates a lot of people still trying to make up their mind. So our meet the candidates series continues over the noon hour and we are going to focus on the governor's race over the noon hour. We'll be talking with Roger mole dfl candidate and the phone lines will be open for your questions on the next All Things Considered Minnesota politics rev up again after a nearly five day campaign halt the latest on Mondale Coleman and the ballot issue on the next All Things Considered weekdays at 3:00 on Minnesota Public Radio. You're listening to Minnesota Public Radio. We have some drizzle. It's 37 degrees at Kenner wfm 91.1 Minneapolis. And st. Paul light rain or snow is likely all afternoon temperatures about where they are cloudy and colder tonight with a low in the upper teens partly cloudy skies are forecast for tomorrow temperatures again in the middle 30s.