Back in August, our post, Congressional challengers: The Bobs that dare not speak their names, brought up the curious fact that the Star Tribune, under the leadership of conservative political editor D. J. Tice, had been unwilling to mention that several Democrats are vying for the DFL endorsement in Minnesota's Sixth congressional district, now represented by Michele Bachmann.
By contrast, the paper used every opportunity to mention the 4-pak of GOP contenders in the First by name.
We found this difference in treating the races glaring, especially glaring because one of the Sixth district candidates had put together more campaign resources, according to Q2 FEC reports, than all of the First district's GOP contenders combined.
A report on the open seat in the Third reveals that the paper's practice might be changing. von Sternberg's article, Suburbs paint '08 election a new hue, notes that Dems are fighting to run against Bachmann:
Even east of the Third, in the more reliably Republican Sixth District, east and north of the Twin Cities, Democrats are eagerly lining up to challenge freshman Rep. Michele Bachmann in a race also seen as potentially competitive.
But D. J. Tice can't quite bring himself to allow the news reporter to mention the names of the DFL contenders in the Sixth:
In the Sixth District, where two announced and one potential Democratic candidate are taking aim at Bachmann, a Democratic win is less likely, but the national attention -- and money -- likely to pour into the Third next door could divert both from the Sixth, further jumbling the race, Wasserman and Ornstein said.
However, the editor is controlling himself, by leaving the four-pak running against Walz nameless as well:
Compared with most elections, when most of the state's eight congressional races are yawners, the prospect of two competitive suburban races is unusual, and that is compounded by the fact that southern Minnesota's First District could be lively, too.
National Republicans have made freshman Rep. Tim Walz a target there and at least four Republicans are trying to knock the Democrat out of office.
It's an improvement; the races in the different districts arenow treated by the same standard.
We're just curious when the Strib will start reporting about how much that national Republican support will help in any of Minnesota's congressional districts. The latest monthly filings by the NRCC and the DCCC reveal an immense cash gap in the Democratic committee's favor. CQPolitics reports Democrats Outpacing Republicans in Building 2008 Congressional Warchests. The details:
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) raised $3.5 million in August, about $1 million more than its partisan counterpart, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).
The two House campaign committees, in a money race to help their party’s chances in the 2008 election, released the figures in detailed campaign reports to the Federal Election Commission filed Thursday.
The DCCC’s August take brought the organization’s year-to-date receipts to $44 million. Because the DCCC has spent only about half of the funds it has received, it began September with $22.1 million in the bank — a robust sum that is substantially higher than the $7.9 million that the DCCC banked at this point two years ago, in the runup to the party’s successful 2006 campaign. The DCCC had $3.1 million in debts as September began.
The NRCC’s financial picture is much different. It has raised $34.6 million this year and spent $34.4 million — or nearly all of it. The NRCC has just $1.6 million in the bank and is carrying $4 million in debt.
That $1.6 million in the bank should go a long way in Minnesota's three competitive districts--or should we say four, if Iraq vet Steve Sarvi gets rolling against Kline in the Second. What that you say? The NRCC has to spend money in other states as well?
Netroots: At Firedoglake, Phoenix Woman weaves together a couple of southern Minnesota threads in Monday Evenin’ Comin’ Down. Perhaps the Strib could report on Dick Day's adventures with those who believe that bullets are a form of "immigration reform."
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