Almanac: At the Capitol

John McCain told the thousands of supporters packed in an Anoka/Blaine airport hanger "with this kind of suppport and enthusiasm we will win Minnesota."  Palin picked up a baby on her way in and mixed policy and personality in her remarks.  She took on Iran saying they should not have nuclear weapons.  Palin also said she will have new responsibilities on government reform, energy and kids with special needs.

First Lady Mary Pawlenty said her husband would haved loved to be here but he's in northern Minnesota for groundbreaking of a billion dollar steel plant, an "economic shot Minnesota needs."

McCain and Palin puppets

Inside it's packed and people are excited.

 Senator McCain leaving for the bus.

Images from the Xcel Energy Center on the RNC closing night.

Gov. Pawlenty sat up in a suite not with McCain campaign folks but surrounded by his family and friends.  He seemed very serious during McCain's speech and not very celebratory.  He did not apppear to crack a smile.  He did stand and applaud.  The disappointment many delegates and political insiders felt turned into to disgust about Pawlenty's mediocre speaking slot.  As many weaker speakers followed him it became more evident that the governor was slighted.  Even Democrats feel bad for the guy

.

Republicans and Democrats I've talked to so far think Tim Pawlenty is still going to make a run for president in four years and is still well positioned to do so.  Gov. Palin is a surprise and people like Tim Pawlenty can't really question Obama's experience with Palin on the ticket.  Big nod to my dear friend and colleague Eric Eskola who broke the story this morning that Pawlenty would not be traveling to Ohio.  

Here's some reaction I've gotten so far:

The Selection of Gov. Sarah Palin Has Electrified the Electorate

Minneapolis, MN – “Absolutely brilliant,” Mathew Staver exclaimed when he heard the news that Sen. John McCain chose Governor Sarah Palin as his choice for Vice President. Staver is Chairman of Liberty Alliance Action, Chairman of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law.*

Attending a meeting of national conservative leaders in Minneapolis, Staver said, “The excitement was palpable among conservative leaders when they heard that Gov. Palin was Sen. McCain’s choice for Vice President. There is a high level of optimism among conservative leaders that the McCain-Palin combination is a ticket that will connect with values voters.”

“The selection of Gov. Palin means that this upcoming election will be historic. But beyond making history, Palin brings substance and excitement. She is intelligent, young, attractive and articulate. As a woman and a mother, she can attract women voters, particularly those who feel disenfranchised,” said Staver. “Gov. Palin can work with both parties and has shown she can clean up government corruption. She has not merely talked about the energy crisis, she has actively worked to create solutions,” Staver continued.

Gov. Pawlenty seemed calm even glad today at the State Fair, despite hanging out with some scary snakes and responding to word in Time that Mitt Romney is McCain's pick.  He praised Romney when asked by reporters.  He also said he planned on being back to do his radio show next week on the very day McCain is set to name his VP.  Mondale & Jones & I talked with Mrs. Mary Pawlenty on WCCO this morning and she said life has been busy but still pretty normal.  When I pressed if she really thought a guy named Timmy she met in law school would put her on the front page of the New York Times, she admitted she didn't think that would ever happen. 

The other topic I'm tackling in my Campaign Notebook this week, is the first debate for the Third District.  All the candidates seem to hold their own.  Madia went after Paulsen for voting against transportation funding after the bridge collapse.  Paulsen defended voting again tax increases and disagreed with his leadership's decision to discipline the Override 6.  Much more on our air tonight.  And don't forget to check our website for daily web reports, David Gillette essays and my blogs from the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty went global today officially announcing Minnesota is joining the ONE campaign  to end worldwide poverty and disease.  Pawlenty said his administration was in the planning stages of a possible trade mission to Africa.  The governor noted that Sens. Obama and McCain have been engaged in the ONE campaign.  Pawlenty, however was not willing to engage on any of the vice presidential talk.  He did confirm that he will travel to Ohio and Pennsylvania this weekend.  He doesn't know yet if he'll be going to Denver on behalf of McCain.

For about the past month Pawlenty has been his old self again with the press corps (and kids who he never fails to impress):  Laid back, sarcastic, calm.  I've been writing and saying for about a month now that it seems like Pawlenty knows if he'll be #2--not sure if he's it or not.   Ever since he visited McCain campaign headquarters and said he'll no longer speculate on VP talk he has seemed to mellow out.  Today, while he would not take VP questions, he gave us a lot of helpful quotes about the upcoming RNC.  He said he's been in many meetings the past week particularly on security and the "level of preparedness is good...we're ready." He also spoke at length about how the convention will boost Minnesota's future tourism and convention business.  Pawlenty is scheduled to address the convention on Thursday.  To many that means he won't be addressing the convention as a VP candidate.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar was also at the press conference in support of the ONE campaign.  Afterwards, I talked to her about her plans to address the DNC not just once but twice.  She said her first talk on Monday will focus on "ethics reforms" and Tuesday with other women her message will be "protecting the family checkbook."

Leading my Campaign Notebook for this week, Pawlenty's national press blitz from "Face The Nation" this weekend, to FOX News earlier the week, from the Wall Street Journal story and sketch over the weekend.  We should know within weeks if he's the VP candidate. What will we talk about if he's not?

The Pew poll this week was big news. It's a good poll and details how McCain is picking up steam with older and blue collar voters.  It appears the same tightening of the race is happening here in Minnesota. Smart Politics talks about that and how Pawlenty's approval ratings have suffered in his home state with his visible national ambitions.  We'll have video proof of Obama's campaign in Minnesota trying to shore up this weakness with Walter Mondale and Josie Johnson launching a talking to seniors tour.

Then the Senate race, took another mudslinging turn as Coleman and Franken's campaigns tried to show the press they were more open and it was their opponents who were holding back details on unpaid utility bills and unpaid taxes.  As the Pioneer Press' Rachel Stassen-Berger so beautifully and bluntly asked each campaign yesterday "Don't Minnesotans have to choose between a tax cheat and a rent cheat?"  

Finally, Rep. Mark Olson just doesn't go away.  Instead of working at the local political level, now prominent Republicans are coming out against him from Sen. Norm Coleman to the Senate Republican Caucus who said he isn't welcome.  Assistant Minority Leader Sen. David Hann told me "We don't believe that Mark Olson should be a candidate."  When I said his local party chose to endorse him he said "I respect local endorsements, but we don't have to support their endorsement."