Almanac: At the Capitol

Further proof that real news happens on Facebook, here's what Tony Sutton just announced on the social networking site:

I am announcing my campaign for State Chair of the Minnesota GOP today -- please search "Tony Sutton Republican" and join my Tony for Chair Facebook Group!

Thanks!

TS

It looks like an effort to unseat current Chair Ron Carey.  GOP spokeswoman just told me that Carey hasn't decided or announced anything yet.  A couple of hours later Sutton sent out a press release to the media with some interesting quotes like:

Al Franken won the endorsement "by acclamation" and word is he would have won on the first ballot with 62%. Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer made the motion in deference to Franken. That's just past the 60% needed for endorsement. A first ballot endorsement is big. It shows strong support for a candidate mired in trouble. JNP and Franken stood side by side.

Franken was emotional accepting the endorsement saying "it is with tremendous humility that I accept your endorsement." A standing ovation followed. He thanked the congressional delegation whom he said he learned so much, interesting that those are the people who questioned his endorsement. Franken said "I'm not a perfect person, but I will tell the truth." Franken focused on Norm Coleman, as he hopes the media will, saying Coleman doesn't work for average people, but big oil and big drug companies. Franken added "I will keep my spine and I will work for you" and promised the delegates they'd be proud of him in Washington.

Thanks for the early tip on the balloting from the sweet guys at MNPublius. They are doing a great job from the convention along with the must-read Michael at MDE. Republicans are on the spot too. They're planning a press conference right after the endorsement outside the arena. GOP Chair Ron Carey immediately issued a statement saying "With their endorsement of Al Franken, the DFL Party gave its official seal of approval to a candidate who failed to pay taxes in 17 states, failed to pay workers' compensation and joked about bestiality and the drugging and rape of a woman."

John McCain supporters are passing out red hats. But so far there were only about a dozen takers. There is a strong libertarian mood on the floor. Ron Paul had a big rally earlier and lots of delegates have told me they really enjoyed my Jesse Ventura interview. Ventura had some harsh words for Norm Coleman, but some of Ron Paul's supporters questioned some of Coleman's votes today. It's new to see some dissention in a GOP that has been so disciplined in the past, especially when it comes to uniting behind one candidate early. One delegate just said, "I didn't know we had a dictatorship." Another delegate added, "They want us to shut up and take it." Party Chair Ron Carey responded, "We cannot run the party if we have rogues."

Many of us in the Capitol press corps haven't had the time or space to fully cover Al Franken's financial problems. The reporters who are most likely to cover politics are based in the Capitol and we're heading into crunch time at the Capitol with less than three weeks now for lawmakers to pass bills. Capitol policy usually trumps politics for us. But over the weekend I had several normal non-partisan people ask me if Franken is in trouble. I don't know, nor would I venture an answer. *Update: Okay, Franken is now probably in real trouble with the AP revelations about him owing $70,000 in back taxes in 17 states.

What I was surprised at was that so much of this information is coming out during a legislative session. Republicans would have likely gotten more ink or airtime after session when there are fewer demands on our time. We're often covering several events simultaneously and there's a lot of news to choose from. In one of his many Capitol visits lately, I talked to Republican Party Chair Ron Carey about this today. He said the timing isn't strategic, he's just revealing the information as they're uncovering it. Carey admitted he'd rather Franken had "locked and loaded" the nomination, but they weren't planning to hold anything back.

What Democrats and Republicans have told me is that Republicans have more people and money assigned to opposition research. I've heard DFLers quietly complaining that the party needs to ramp up its opposition research and have staffers working on it full time.

Below is an email that went out to Republican supporters to make sure Jesse doesn't run for Senate. The conventional wisdom was always that Jesse hurt Dems more than Republicans, but in a race that is likely to be close, I guess neither side wants a wildcard. I can't wait to talk to Jesse about this, we have an interview scheduled soon...

Dear Supporters, Just when you thought the 2008 campaign couldn’t get more unpredictable, Former Governor and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura says that he has not ruled out running for senate –and we need your help to make sure that doesn’t happen. Ventura alluded to a possible run while promoting his latest book, and spreading his radical view that the government is covering up the real cause of the collapse of the World Trade Center in 2001 and that the CIA is conspiring to keep him out of power. It is patriotic and responsible Minnesotans like you, not the CIA, who will keep Ventura and the leftist Democrat candidate Al Franken out of the United States Senate. Please make a contribution to the Minnesota Republican Party today, to ensure that we have the necessary resources to keep our senate seat safe. Minnesota cannot afford to relive the mistakes of the Ventura administration. The Former Governor’s legacy includes major tax increase proposals and major embarrassments. Results which blatantly contradicted campaign promises to lower taxes and decrease the size of governemnt. Please make your donation today to make sure that true fiscal conservatives represent Minnesota in Washington. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Ron Carey Chairman Minnesota Republican Party P.S. Please make your most generous donation today to help us defend our senate seat from radicals like Al Franken and Jesse Ventura. Thank you!         Prepared and Paid For By The Republican Party Of Minnesota, Ron Carey, Chair Not Authorized By Any Candidate Or Candidate Committee www.mngop.com

We in the press aren't exactly sure how to describe why Al Franken had a big rally at the Capitol today. It seemed to be what we call a "pre-act" — that is reacting to an event before it happens. The event he's pre-acting to is Sen. Norm Coleman's campaign kick-off tomorrow. Much of the speech was devoted to Coleman. The "re-launch" aspect seems to be him almost re-starting his campaign with Ciresi out of the way.

It was a half-an-hour address that felt a lot like a convention acceptance speech. It was a well-crafted and keenly delivered speech. The moment the cameras loved was his closing comments when Franken got choked up, held back the tears saying: "Paul Wellstone said, 'The future belongs to those who are passionate and work hard.' I am so passionate about what we can achieve together. Are you ready to work hard alongside me?"

Speaking of "pre-acting," Republican Party Chair Ron Carey was ready with a pre-act pointing out Franken's problems paying workers compensation and now disability benefits to staffers. Carey thought it was ironic Franken was "standing with working men and women ... when he doesn't take care of people who work for him."