Tuesday, January 20, 2009 - 11:57 am
As millions gather in Washington for Pres. Obama's inauguration, many Minnesotans are in attendance. Gov. Tim Pawlenty is there as are House DFL Leaders Kelliher and Sertich. Kelliher said "He represents a new generation." Sertich said "he transcended race and petty politics." Former Vice President Walter Mondale is on the main riser.
Obama makes much history today, but I was surprised that he's not even close to being the youngest president in history. Surprisingly, that honor goes to Teddy Roosevelt who assumed office at just 42 after McKinley's assassination. The youngest elected president hold true to perception, JFK was 43. I don't remember Bill Clinton being just 46, still younger than Obama at 47. We often think of our governor as a young governor, but he is a year older than Obama. He also brings left-handedness back to the White House, Reagan, Bush Sr., and Clinton were part of the left-handed streak in the Oval Office.
Some other bits of analysis that stands out of to me. The first President Bush served in a segregated army. Presidents Carter and Clinton grew up in segregation south. And they are standing there feet away from a Black man becoming president. One PBS anaylst (Ch. 17 is broadcasting the event) just said that the transition from Bush (Jr.) to Obama is probably "the best transition ever." That is a credit to both men and their staffs. It is the remarkable day when we watch the peaceful transition of power that makes our democracy enviable.
Friday, August 15, 2008 - 10:01 am
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."
In 1979, Walter Mondale traveled to Mundahl, Norway ... the home of his ancestors. Tagging along on the trip was KTCA. Together with Norwegian State Television, Channel 2 produced a documentary carrying the title — and we're not kidding you — Walter Mondale: There's a Fjord in Your Past. Until recently, this program was lost. But we recently uncovered it.
In 1980 the Carter-Mondale team suffered a stunning defeat at the polls. That fall, KTCA scored a scoop when the station landed Mondale's first sit-down TV interview after the election. Here are some highlights from reporter Mary Stuckey's wide-ranging exchange with Mondale.
A blue ribbon committee is advocating for a new way to select legislative districts after the 2010 Census. Former Governor Arne Carlson and ex-Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe join us in the studio to explain this new approach.
Walter Mondale gives his first interview after losing the 1980 election. A young Paul Wellstone causes a stir at a farm-foreclosure protest. Almanac cameras capture a 1985 gathering of Minnesota's seven living former governors. And Rudy Perpich, the first governor to participate in an Almanac debate, squares off against Cal Ludeman.
Vice President Walter Mondale celebrates HHH's legacy at his funeral. Campaign Weekly analyzes campaign commercials for future senators Rudy Boschwitz and Dave Durenberger. KTCA crews record the scene on the election night dubbed by DFLers "the Minnesota Massacre." And the station documents Mondale's ancestral trip to Norway.
