Bluestem Prairie: news about Tim Walz (MN-1)

Thursday mid-day digest: crunch time edition

[update] The Repede Family blogs about Pancakes with Al and Tim in Rochester this morning. Lots of pictures [end update]

Fifty-two years ago today, our father stopped by the maternity ward of Mankato's Immanuel Hospital to see our mom and us, then went back out to canvas the streets of the Key City for Dwight Eisenhower's re-election campaign.

Since then, attitudes about fathers' roles in birthing have changed. We don't know any man who wasn't at the side of the mother of his child--with the exception of a couple of guys in the Army and National Guard, who weren't happy at being away but understood their duty.

But the crunch time of GOTV has remained a constant companion on our birthday in even-numbered years. We urge everyone to get out and volunteer--whether by phone banking, doorknocking, stufing packets, or making food for the hordes of volunteers who are giving their time in this important election.

There will be work to do on Election Day as well; one task is driving voters to the poll. If you're civic minded but not into political parties, consider volunteering for this GOTV work.  Non-profits in Minnesota can hook you up with non-partisan GOTV volunteer opportunities.

We wouldn't want anyone to have to give that greedy cat a burger in order to exercise his or her right to vote.

The MinnPost's Joe Kimball reports Al Franken has a very 'full plate' today. The menu:  breakfast pancakes in Rochester and lunch chili in Owatonna with Congressman Walz. There'll be a rally at MSU-Mankato at 3 p.m. The MSU Reporter provides details in Frenzied final days: Franken and Walz wil stop at MSU today during tour:

Minnesota's Democratic nominee for U.S Senate, Al Franken, will be on campus today along with fellow Democrat Tim Walz, a candidate for the House of Representatives.

The event will take place at 3 p.m. in the Minnesota State Centennial Student Union Ballroom.

Yesterday's rally at Winona State with Al Franken has garnered some attention. WKBT in LaCrosse reports Al Franken Campaigns in Winona. The Winona Daily News reports Al Franken campaigns at WSU.

The Owatonna People's Press reports in Press conference held for Walz on Owatonna:

John Rassieur of Owatonna, Carl Witty of Kasson and Laura Askelin of Rochester participate in a press conference Wednesday in Owatonna to support Congressman Tim Walz, and to criticize a national sales tax supported by Walz’s Republican opponent Dr. Brian Davis. Walz was not in Owatonna Wednesday to participate in the press conference, but will be appearing with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken at 11:45 a.m. today at the Owatonna Elks Club.

Our readers may remember that Congressman Walz returned $100,000 of the money allocated to his office for 2007 to the U.S. treasury. That contrasts sharply with a story at the Minnesota Independent. Andy Birkey reveals that Bachmann’s self-promotion unusual among Congress  members[emphasis ended]:

Rep. Michele Bachmann is now notorious for her appearances on cable TV news programs, having sparked significant controversy with her recent “anti-America” statements on MSNBC. But as Politico reports, Bachmann, a Republican, has done 23 major television appearances since the beginning of September — far more than any member of Minnesota’s congressional delegation. How does a freshman Congress member from the minority party find herself in the limelight so often?

Easy. You and I pay for it.

Bachmann has built an impressive communications staff in Washington, D.C. She has a press secretary for national media, a press secretary for local media and a “new media director” who harnesses “the networking and outreach power of the internet.”

According to congressional salary data, none of Minnesota’s Congress members has more than one press secretary. Minnesota’s most influential members, Democratic Reps. James Oberstar and Collin Peterson, who chair the House Transportation and Agriculture committees, respectively, each have only one press secretary.

Bachmann’s fellow freshman colleagues, Democratic Reps. Keith Ellison and Tim Walz, each have just one communications lead, and Walz has combined the communications director and district director positions into one entity.

When the congresswoman endorsed Davis, he gushed:

"It's an honor to receive the support of Congresswoman Bachmann," Davis said of Bachmann. "She is a dynamic leader for Minnesota and for our conservative causes. I value her leadership and advice, her principles and energy. I look forward to serving with her in the 111th Congress."

No word on whether Davis holds fast to that opinion.

Letter writers in the WDN worry about Davis's allegiance to Michele Bachmann in More silence from Brian Davis and his ignorance of vets issues in Davis should have done better:

Over the weekend, I read something very concerning. When the Republican candidate for Congress, Brian Davis, was asked to name a specific way he would improve education or health care benefits for veterans, he couldn’t come up with even one idea.

I can’t believe that someone could run for Congress for over a year and in all that time not manage to develop a single idea about how to improve veterans’ care. I have heard how hard it is for veterans to make use of their educational benefits.

When I returned from Vietnam in 1971, I was able to enroll in law school without having to jump through all kinds of hoops to get my benefits as veterans do today. Anyone who has taken the time to talk to a veteran and get their perspective on these issues would have been able to come up with an answer to that question. But not Davis, I guess.

[Robert]Youngerman is a retired major in the United States Army Reserve.                         

Billed as a presentation of Davis's heath care plan, last night's meeting in Albert Lea turns out simply have been a chance for Davis to rally the GOP faithful.  Check out the intense excitement rippling across the faces of the faithful.

Erin Hoban writes the Post Bulletin to say 23 percent sales tax proposed by Davis would target poor, elderly. We have more about Davis and the national sales tax here and here. In the Owatonna People's Pressm a Walz supporter writes that Walz won’t gamble away Social Security. A letter in the WDN says that Seniors are hurting; it’s time for change and readers should vote for Walz and other DFLers.

LaPrensa endorses Congressman Walz; Brian Davis didn't bother to return the four-question survey. The nod joins the long list of endorsements Walz has received.

Now get out and volunteer for GOTV. Here's Walz's latest positive ad:

Working families toolkit available for first district citizens

We received this press release from the congressional office late last week:

WALZ ANNOUNCES ONLINE WORKING FAMILIES TOOLKIT

(Mankato, MN) – Today, Congressman Walz launched an online working families toolkit.  Walz’s website (walz.house.gov) features links to some of the most commonly sought information on foreclosure, heating, and unemployment assistance during this hard economic time.

“All too often, individuals who need assistance don’t know where to start.  The websites of major government departments include massive amounts of information that can make it challenging for consumers to find the assistance they need. My online working families toolkit is designed to be simple and easy to navigate. It provides direct links to programs like HOPE for Homeowners that will help consumers renegotiate mortgages they can no longer afford,” said Walz.

The online toolkit includes information about and links to:
Ø       The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Ø       The Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income homeowners
Ø       HOPE for Homeowners
Ø       Credit counseling resources recommended by the Department of Housing and Urban Development
Ø       The Women, Infants and Children nutrition assistance program
Ø       National School Lunch and Breakfast programs
Ø       Low-income senior nutrition programs
Ø       Unemployment Insurance
Ø       The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and MinnesotaCare

Congressman Walz’s office is also able to offer assistance resolving problems with federal agencies.  The Congressman’s office frequently handles issues involving Social Security, Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IRS and other issues relating to the federal government.  Individuals in need of assistance cutting through red tape with a federal agency, or who do not have access to the internet, should call Walz’s Rochester office at 507-206-0643 for assistance.

The working families toolkit can be found at http://walz.house.gov/consumerassistance.shtm

Tough times are nothing new. This Dylan cover of Stephen Foster's 1854 "Hard Times,"  performed at a Willie Nelson tribute concert in 1993, goes out to remind those in better circumstances to contribute to local food shelves, some of which are struggling to keep up with the need.

Just this past week, the Austin Herald covered the local Salvation Army's call  for help stocking its food pantry's shelves. Do what you can to help your local food shelves. In Austin, the local Jaycees and the postal workers will be offering an opportunities to help "the least of these":

In addition, the Austin Jaycees and the local postal workers union are teaming up for a food drive Nov. 8. Residents can place food items near their mailboxes, while the carriers will then take them to the post office and the Jaycees then help sort them and load the up to be taken over to the food shelf. As a reminder, postal workers will be dropping off notices to households a couple of days before the drive.

“My personal belief and the belief of the letter carriers of Austin is that a person deserves to have their basic needs met, and one of those needs is food,” said Bob Rosel, president of the local letter carrier’s union.

Wednesday morning digest: fashion plate edition

CQ Politics reports House Rating Changes Topped by Bachmann Blow-Up. Need we say more?

Bachmann is whining that it wasn't her fault that the words came out of her mouth. Blaming someone else seems to be fashionable among conservatives these days.  In his letter, Recent debate fair in form, not in content, Preston Smith whines about the bias of the moderators in the Debate Minnesota forum in Mankato.

Funny, but we recall a debate that centered on the economy and energy policy. Moreover, since conservative challenger Brian Davis chose domestic drilling as "the" issue in his race, conservatives have little room to kvetch if the media keeps its attention glued to the topic pressed by their candidate.

A letter writer in Woodbury says it's Time to grade Rep. Michele Bachmann’s job performance. Andrea Myers compares the Sixth district congresswoman's performance with that of her fellow freshmen from Minnesota:

. . .First, Bachmann failed to do the basic job requirement of a congress member; that is, listen and respond to constituents. Bachmann has not made any serious effort to meet with citizens of the sixth district.

Holding town hall forums is a long standing tradition and a great way for House Representatives to listen to their constituents.

Bachmann has held zero town hall forums in the district.

Now compare that to the other two freshman congress members: Rep. Tim Walz has sponsored 172 community meetings and public events, and Rep. Keith Ellison has had 20 town hall forums plus dozens more community meetings. . .

We attended a number of those town meetings, and it was fascinating to see citizens who felt free to share their opinion on a range of issues from the Iraq War to abortion. Walz's frequent contact with district citizens was one of the reasons that the New Ulm Journal cited as reason for its endorsement of the congressman's re-election.

Hayfield cattle farmer Lisa Heggedahl tells the editors and readers of the Owatonna People's Press that Walz takes the Correct stand on Social Security:

. . .Congressman Tim Walz has done a great deal for Minnesota[n]s — for our veterans, our active duty military, and farmers like me — and he continues to protect those dependent on Social Security by opposing privatization of Social Security.

Thanks, Tim Walz, for all the work you do on our behalf.

Read the whole thing at the Owatonna People's Press.  The OPP also notes Rudy Giuliani will stump for Norm Coleman in Owatonna, Rochester, and Mankato. Maybe Brian Davis will tag along and explain to voters why Coleman is wrong on opposing drilling in ANWR. Or maybe Rudy can talk up conservative social issues for Davis in Mankato since the debate moderators were such meanies. Do you think?

Update: The Post Bulletin reports more Davis whining in 'Card check' act would transform labor landscape. [end update].

The PiPress reports GOP spends $150,000 to outfit Palin and her family, reports say.  The article puts the spending at Neiman Marcus, Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue into perspective:

The business of primping and dressing on the campaign trail has become fraught with political risk in recent years as voters increasingly see an elite Washington out of touch with their values and lifestyles.

In 2000, Democrat Al Gore took heat for changing his clothing hues. And in 2006, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was ribbed for two hair styling sessions that cost about $3,000.

Then, there was Democrat John Edwards' $400 haircuts in 2007 and Republican McCain's $520 black leather Ferragamo shoes this year.

A review of similar records for the campaign of Democrat Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee turned up no similar spending.

But all the spending by other candidates pales in comparison to the GOP outlay for the Alaska governor, whose expensive, designer outfits have been the topic of fashion pages and magazines.

What hadn't been apparent was where the clothes came from — her closet back in Wasilla or from the campaign coffers in Washington.

The answer can be found inside the RNC's September monthly financial disclosure report under "itemized coordinated expenditures."

Guess Pat Nixon's respectable Republican cloth coat just wasn't good enough for Palin's handlers, who apparently trusted the Alaska governor's natural good looks less than Nixon had faith in his wife's appearance.  Why not Herberger's, Penney's, Walmart or, if designer togs are imperative,  Discount 70?

Photo: Congressman Walz and farmers in Southeastern Minnesota.

Where does Brian Davis stand on AARP's issues?

AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons,describes itself as "a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over ... dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all as we age."  It claims 38 million members nationwide.

The group has just issued its Minnesota Voters Guide. According to the group's website:

Each election year, AARP asks major candidates in selected races key questions about the issues most important to our members and their families. Candidates are allowed up to 125 words to answer each question. AARP does not edit or modify the candidates’ answers to our questions. In addition, AARP provides a summary of our position for each of the issues addressed.

Given the power of the older voter (people in the 50+ age group are among those groups with the highest voter turnout), candidates tend to answer the questionnaire by the deadline.

Brian Davis, the Republican candidate running in Minnesota's First Congressional district, didn't respond on time.

Voters looking to the guide for Davis's positions on social security, retirement security, affordable health care, long-term care, and making a commitment "to help end gridlock by working across party lines to develop and support common-sense, bipartisan solutions on health care and financial security" are simply out of luck.

Here's the link to the AARP Voters Guide for 2008 Minnesota, US House District 1 for those who want to learn Congressman Walz's positions.

The only other instance of  2008 major party candidates runnning for federal office who didn't answer is in the Fourth with both Ed Matthews and Betty McCollum not responding. We have no idea what they were thinking.

Photo: Congressman Walz and seniors in a Mankato town hall meeting, from the Mankato Free Press.

District news digest: sunny prairie October afternoon edition

Smart Politics looks at Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District. Several reasons the First isn't getting the RPM's undivided attention is detailed in the Pioneer Press's coverage Tinklenberg will get cash infusion in 6th District fight against Bachmann.

Also helpful for at-a-glance judgments: Swing State Project's House 3Q Fundraising Reports Roundup.

The Albert Lea Tribune reports Mondale coming on Saturday in a campaign stop with Congressman Walz.

The Washington Independent takes up the credit default swaps hearing in Democrats Push to Regulate Leading Factor in Meltdown.

Cliff Bowman writes to the editors of the Jackson County Pilot AIG throws public bailout back in our faces:

Last week, we learned that AIG executives spent $400,000 on a junket after the federal government gave $85 billion to the failing company. AIG gave its executives vacations at an exclusive resort, where they spent up to $200,000 for rooms, $150,000 for meals and $23,000 for the spa.

What nerve! Don’t these people have any shame? They accept a massive public bailout, a welfare program for the wealthy, and then throw it back in our faces!

Bravo to Tim Walz for voting against this legislated fraud.

The Pilot reports in Local agency ready to help with heating bills:

With colder weather on the horizon and talk of higher heating costs in the air, more Jackson County residents are — or will be — taking a long, hard look at their utility bills.

After they do, many more households than in past years are expected to turn to the government’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, according to Michelle Kompelien, self-sufficiency case manager at Western Community Action’s Jackson office.

Federal legislators, too, have seen the increased need coming and have sent an additional $144.5 million to Minnesota, almost double the normal allocation, to meet the demand.

“Minnesota can be an awfully cold place in the winter, but no one should go without heat because they’ve fallen on hard times,” said Gov. Tim Pawlenty, in a press release.

We're curious if Brian Davis objects to the way this aid is administered as much as he questions the distribution of emergency food shelf aid--and if he disagrees with Pawlenty's statement.

In honor of Brian Davis's suspicion toward programs designed to help those less well off, we select the Growling Tiger's calypso classic, "Money is King."A bit of irony, too, given the good doctor's fundraising, though unlike Chad, we're not fretting too much about a candidate who has a $411,000 job waiting for him.

Our first choice was King Radio's "Sedition Law" for our trouble-making friend Jussein, but no one's been ambitious enough yet to put together a YouTube of that one. Pity.

Photo: Walz and Rochester seniors.

Who's minding the store: media coverage of credit default swaps hearings

Congressman Walz's participation in the House Agriculture Committee's hearing on credit derivatives is capturing national attention. The Washington Times has posted the AP report, Credit default swaps targeted, along with the photo of slot machines.

The caption says it all: "Credit default swaps turn out to be more unregulated than gambling..."

As does Laurie Kellman's article for the Associated Press in the WaTimes:

Debt insurers, say hello to government regulation. Say farewell to voluntary compliance and disclosure.

Congress and financial regulators for the first time appear willing to impose rules on obscure financial contracts that are increasingly being blamed for igniting the global financial crisis.

"Please excuse the healthy skepticism of my constituents," Rep. Tim Walz, Minnesota Democrat, said Wednesday during a House hearing, referring to the relative free rein given those involved in so-called credit default swaps. "They're not buying that right now."

Republicans, traditional opponents of regulation, acknowledge that Congress needs to lay down the law.

"There are at least some limits to market economics that we're going to have to make," said Sen. Richard G. Lugar, Indiana Republican, during a hearing earlier in the week.

Lawmakers and state and federal regulators are a long way from agreeing on specifics. But they're marching in rare bipartisan lockstep toward making the terms of credit default swaps transparent and subject to government supervision. . . .

Go read the whole article. Southwestern Minnesota's citizens tuning in to Sioux Falls' ABC affiliate KSFY-TV could watch reporter Drew Sandholm's INTERVIEW: Walz Investigates Wall Street Abuses. A sample:

KSFY: Going into your Congressional hearing, you said the use of credit derivatives had the American economy operating on a "...Vegas casino mentality..." Did you find that to be true?

Walz: Well, that's pretty much what the experts said. This was held in the Agricultural Committee hearing and it's the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. It was dealing specifically with the credit default swaps. These are kind of shadowy backroom deals that equal 55-trillion dollars. They were at the heart of bringing down AIG and the problem with them is: there is no oversight to them. There is no one that knows who's trading these things, how leveraged they are, and the risk was obviously one of the contributing factors in the problems we're experiencing in the economy.

So, we were there to hear from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the CFTC, experts from the University of Texas, amongst others -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange and then representatives from this industry who was pretty much the only one in the room that thought everything was okay. Everybody else said, 'No, there's a problem here.'

Go read the rest at the station's web site.Earlier, KEYC-TV covered the hearings in Rep. Walz on Legislative Investigation Into Wall Street Meltdown.

The Post Bulletin's Washington reporter, Ed Felker, reports in Walz calls for regulation of credit default swaps, at heart of crisis:

. . .Walz, who sits on the committee, returned to Washington on Wednesday to attend the hearing. He pressed witnesses to understand citizen anger over apparent manipulation of the markets through the unregulated derivatives, and called on the government to be vigilant about future unregulated financial tools.

In later interviews, Walz had more:

. . ."It's about bringing back trust. I keep coming back to that," he said. "People want to know that these people are being asked to play by the rules and that the investments are on the up and up and that they're not in the shadows."

Walz, who voted against both versions of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout package said the initial anger over the bill has subsided somewhat, but constituents still want to know what is being done to prevent another crisis.

"They've lost trust, they've lost confidence," he said. "So anything we can do to restore confidence, I don't know that you can measure in sheer numbers, but they want to know ... that somebody's minding the store, somebody's got to make sure this doesn't happen again, and somebody's looking out for their interest."

Meanwhile, back in Rochester, the Post-Bulletin's Matt Stolle covered the Davis campaign's press event with John Boehner. Readers can check out John Boehner's stoic attempts to paint the town red in the article. Here are some tidbits from the article:

. . .Polling information on the race has been scarce, but what has been released so far has shown Walz with a lead. Even a poll released by the Davis campaign late last month to illustrate a shift in momentum in Davis' favor had Walz, a Mankato high school teacher, with an 18-point lead.

The Web site Realclearpolitics.com, for example, doesn't include the 1st District race among its rankings of the top 50 seats most likely to switch parties.

We missed that one. Check it out yourself here.

. . .Meanwhile, the Walz campaign continued to hammer away at Davis for supporting a partial privatization of Social Security, an idea Walz spokesman Chris Schmitter called the equivalent of "gambling away on the stock market."

"In this economic climate, when he's talking about a plan to partially privatize Social Security, that right there is an indication that's not what people want," Schmitter said.

Events have not necessarily conspired to help Davis' campaign. In debates, Davis has pledged to keep the promise of Social Security, but has argued that young workers should be given the option of diverting a portion of their Social Security contributions into private accounts. But his argument has come at a time when the stock market has plunged in value. . .

Read the whole article at the Post Bulletin. Since Davis had not yet released his fundraising report to the FEC nor released any numbers to the press, the article doesn't consider how the Davis campaign is Not waving, but drowning.

Walz campaign responds to Boehner visit

Just in from the Walz campaign:

Dr. Brian Davis Calls On Washington Insider To Boost Sinking Campaign

Visit is from Congressional champion of gambling Social Security on the stock market

(Rochester, Minn.) – Today, in an effort to boost his stalled campaign, Dr. Brian Davis enlisted the help of a Washington insider, Congressman John Boehner.  Davis’s campaign has stalled over public concerns over his plan to put Social Security funds at risk by investing them in the stock market.

Walz Campaign Manager Chris Schmitter said that Boehner’s visit was payback for Dr. Davis’s rigid support for the Republican Party line.

“I’m not surprised a Washington insider like John Boehner would come to help Dr. Davis,” Schmitter said.  “After all, Dr. Davis pledged to avoid any independence at all and support every line in the Republican Party platform: from privatizing Social Security to abolishing the Department of Education.”

However, Schmitter said that Boehner’s visit is unlikely to have the impact Dr. Davis was hoping for.

“I understand that Dr. Davis is looking for help from anywhere he can get it to boost his campaign,” Schmitter said.  “But I don’t think that bringing in the champion of Social Security privatization is going to help him much in this economic climate.”

“Tim Walz will always fight to protect Social Security from those who want to undermine it by investing it in the stock market,” said Schmitter.

Like Dr. Davis, who has routinely expressed support for privatizing Social Security, Boehner has a long history of pushing to gamble Social Security funds on the stock market.  Boehner has a lifetime 0% voting record with the Alliance for Retired Americans because of his support for proposals that would gamble away the retirement security of America’s seniors.  Tim Walz has been endorsed by the Alliance for Retired Americans due to his steadfast opposition to those proposals.

The following includes some key questions for Rep. Boehner and Dr. Davis today:

Last Spring, Davis Said He Supported The Privatization Of Social Security. Davis said, “I do believe that people below a certain age should have the option to invest some of their Social Security in the private market.” [Winona Youth GOP Debate, 2/23/08, full transcription available on request]

Again, Despite the Economic Crisis, Davis Recently Said Again That He Supported Privatizing Social Security.  “Davis says privatizing, or allowing some of the payroll taxes to be invested, would be one way to help. ‘So let's say 40% or 50% of payroll taxes could be included into a secure type of even a 403B plan, which would be bonds and securities that are very stable,’ says Davis.” [KAAL News Interview, 9/25/08]

Davis Said If You Want to Know Where He Stood on an Issue to Look at the Republican Party Platform. Davis said, “I want to reassure you that I’m a conservative platform republican I will cast those votes and I will advocate on behalf of our causes. I think our Republican Party platform in this state is great. Do you want to know where I stand; you can start with that document.” [Fillmore Co GOP Convention, full transcription available on request]

Republican Party Platform of MN  Republican Party Platform Section 1, Letter P (Page 2): Allowing all Americans to invest some or all of their Social Security payments, continuing to fulfill our obligations to older Americans, and prohibiting Congress from using Social Security funds for any other purpose.

Boehner Said Privatization Should Be the “Foundation” of Social Security: Boehner signed a letter to the President’s Commission on Strengthening Social Security, which said “We must make [personal retirement accounts] the foundation of Social Security.” May 24, 2001

Photo: Bush and Boehner just in case readers missed the Republican brand on Dr. Davis.

Wednesday morning digest: voter registration issue

Yesterday was the last day to register before the general election in Minnesota. Citizens may register and vote on election day, but the process is easier when the voter is already on the rolls.

Voter registration is up in Mankato and St. Peter, according to the Mankato Free Press.  The paper reports in Voter registration mostly heavy:

County auditors never felt so loved.

Across the area — and the state — most auditors are getting a heavy influx of people who are pre-registering to vote Nov. 4.

“The numbers are way up,” said Bridgette Kennedy, auditor-treasurer in Nicollet County.

Her office already had more than 600 new registrations and many more were coming in Tuesday, the last day to pre-register.

In Blue Earth County, Elections Director Patty O’Connor didn’t have exact numbers of new registers, but she knows the numbers are way up.

Already there are about 39,000 existing and new voters registered in the county. In the last presidential election in 2004, there were 33,300 registered voters on Election Day.

“They’re up quite a bit. We’re seeing a lot of the 18- to 25-year olds. A lot are coming from the college.”

Voting via absentee ballot is also hitting record marks:

Several area counties also sent out record numbers of absentee ballots. Nicollet County mailed 630 of them.

Le Sueur County Auditor Ron Germscheid said they have so far sent out about 600 absentee ballots.

O’Connor’s office sent out 1,200 absentee ballots so far and is expecting steady business the next few weeks.

Will it matter? The paper says:

While much of the interest is apparently being driven by the presidential election, the influx of new voters could play a role in other contests, particularly in areas where the races are considered close.

In the 1st District, where Democrat Tim Walz faces Republican challenger Brian Davis, 11,000 new voters registered as of a week ago.

Which way will the new voters go? Statewide, Democratic areas have shown greater growth in registration numbers. The Strib's article noted:

New registrations are also high in solidly Democratic-voting college towns such as Mankato, where Kerry won by more than 12 points, and Northfield, which he carried won by 36 percentage points. In Mankato, 71 percent of the new registrations were among people between the ages of 18 and 25. In Northfield, that figure was 26 percent, the newspaper analysis found.  . . .

. . .The new registrations in Minnesota could have an impact on closely contested congressional races as well. In southern Minnesota's First District, for example, Democrat Tim Walz defeated Republican incumbent Gil Gutknecht by 15,000 votes in 2006. In that district, 11,000 new voters have registered this year. . .

We're not sure how close the race is between Walz and Davis, with even Davis's polling last month showing Walz with an 18 percentage point lead,  but the registration number is intriguing.

The New Ulm Journal looks at Monday night's debate in 1st District candidates Walz, Davis spar on many issues.

Rachel Bartholomay writes the Winona Daily News to say Walz actually represents our interests:

I am not usually a fan of Rep. Tim Walz, but I want to publicly thank him for having the integrity to represent the wishes of his constituents and to vote twice against the bailout of Wall Street.

The disastrous bill bails out Wall Street at the expense of Main Street. It puts taxpayer funds at risk, while freeing up banks to continue making bad loans. It maintains and further subsidizes a system of flawed practices that caused the original problem. It will greatly worsen the long-term effects, and perhaps even the short-terms ones.

It is also immoral beyond measure for one generation to transfer its expenses onto the backs of another, but that is exactly what this bill does. It is American children and grandchildren who will have to pay the tax bill to balance the accounts on Wall Street’s greed and incompetence. It is the next generation who will be saddled with the consequences of the current generation’s unwillingness to face its own music.

Sadly, our Congress, which is supposed to represent the interests of the American people, has, again, acquiesced to the pressures of special interests. It is the wealthy, the powerful, and the international financial community that they, Democrats and Republicans alike, chose to represent over the Americans on Main Street.

The residents of Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District are fortunate to have a representative who actually represents the hardworking citizens in his district.

In national news, the New York Times reports Poll Says McCain Hurts His Bid by Using Attacks. Nugget:

The top reasons cited by those who said they thought less of Mr. McCain were his recent attacks and his choice of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate.

Fascinating stuff. Read the whole analysis.

KEYC-TV asks Credit Derivatives: Key to the Economic Crisis? Congressman Walz will be in Washington today for a House Ag Committee hearing about credit derivatives.

Evening update: television news coverage of Congressman Walz

KTTC-TV tags along in Rochester while Walz talks Social Security:

We spent some time with Congressman Tim Walz as he visited with senior citizens today.  He talked about the economy and the importance of preserving social security.

Walz will return to Washington, D.C. tomorrow to participate in a Congressional hearing investigating Wall Street abuses.

Walz serves on the House Agriculture Committee which will hold a hearing on the role credit derivatives played in the financial meltdown. That committee controls futures trading.

Walz says the problem began when these credit derivatives, or as he calls them, bad loans or bonds, became underregulated and overspeculated.

Update: KAAL-TV has posted Candidates Address Social Security, a longer comparison piece about the three congressional candidates' positions. Video and short text at the link.[end update]

In Mankato, KEYC-TV reports that Walz to Attend Congressional Hearing on Financial Crisis:

Congressman Tim Walz says he'll take part in a Congressional hearing to investigate the Wall Street abuses that potentially caused the financial meltdown.

Walz serves on the House Agriculture Committee, which will hold the hearing examining the role credit derivatives played in the financial meltdown.

Rep. Tim Walz says, "What needs to happen, and what I'm still convinced of is, the free market has to function correctly. But to do that we need rules to play by. And we're out there to try to make sure that oversight is put in place."Walz hopes the hearing will start the process of determining what kind of Wall Street oversight must be adopted to make sure this kind of financial crisis never happens again.

Tonight at Ten, we'll take a closer look at 'credit derivatives' and what role they may have played in the economic crisis.

Video at both links. We'll be listening to the House Ag committee hearing on "credit derivatives" at 10 a.m.Central time (online here).

Less hardy souls may opt to watch Minority Leader John Boehner's tan dry in Rochester. In the MnPublius post Secret Paulsen, Bachmann and Kline Fundraiser With John Boehner Tonight, Aaron Landry notes that the pachyderm pasha is already in the state.

Photo: From KTTC's story, Congressman Walz and Denver Congresswoman Diana DeGette visit with Rochester area seniors.

Walz and Denver Congresswoman DeGette visit with Rochester Seniors

From the Walz campaign office:

Tim Walz, Denver Congresswoman DeGette Visit Rochester Senior Center to Discuss Social Security
“Preserving the promise of Social Security is crucial to Minnesota’s seniors,” Walz says

( Rochester , Minn. ) – Today, Tim Walz and Congresswoman Diana DeGette visited the Rochester Senior Center , where they talked with local senior citizens about the impact of the recent economic downturn and the importance of preserving Social Security.

Walz and DeGette, a member of the House Democratic Leadership and the Vice Chair of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, said that because southern Minnesota has a high percentage of residents over age 65, the economic crisis has had a significant impact on the lives of local seniors.

“Today, I heard from seniors who are struggling to make ends meet,” said Congressman Tim Walz.  “For seniors who live on a fixed income, it is particularly hard to cope with the rising costs of gas, food and prescription drugs.  That’s why it is more important than ever that we protect Social Security and fight any attempt to privatize it and gamble it away on the stock market.”

“Congressman Walz and I are both committed to making sure Social Security remains the most successful antipoverty program in the world,” said Congresswoman DeGette.  “But in order to do that, southern Minnesota needs to send Congressman Walz back for another term.  His opponent, Dr. Davis, has said he would gamble Social Security in the stock market.  That would jeopardize the economic security of the seniors we talked to today in Rochester .  Southern Minnesota needs Tim Walz to continue protecting their Social Security in these uncertain times.”

Last Spring, Davis Said He Supported The Privatization Of Social Security. Davis said, “I do believe that people below a certain age should have the option to invest some of their Social Security in the private market.” [Winona Youth GOP Debate, 2/23/08, full transcription available on request]

Again, Despite the Economic Crisis, Davis Recently Said Again That He Supported Privatizing Social Security.  “Davis says privatizing, or allowing some of the payroll taxes to be invested, would be one way to help. ‘So let's say 40% or 50% of payroll taxes could be included into a secure type of even a 403B plan, which would be bonds and securities that are very stable,’ says Davis.” [KAAL News Interview, 9/25/08]

Davis Said If You Want to Know Where He Stood on an Issue to Look at the Republican Party Platform. Davis said, “I want to reassure you that I’m a conservative platform republican I will cast those votes and I will advocate on behalf of our causes. I think our Republican Party platform in this state is great. Do you want to know where I stand; you can start with that document.” [Fillmore Co GOP Convention, full transcription available on request]

Republican Party Platform of MN (pdf here)

Republican Party Platform Section 1, Letter P (Page 2): Allowing all Americans to invest some or all of their Social Security payments, continuing to fulfill our obligations to older Americans, and prohibiting Congress from using Social Security funds for any other purpose.

In Civility, issues dominate Walz-Davis debate, MinnPost reports that the Social Security issue caused the one flare up in last night's debate. Apparently, the reporter hasn't seen the ad that prompted Davis's flare  up, but is taking Davis's word for what's in the Walz comparison ad's content. 

Photo: Congresswoman Diana DeGette.