Last Tuesday, Eric Pusey wrote in Cravaack still has not announced 'special' event for Duluth:
. . .When confronted at a private event in June, Cravaack said he was planning a "special" event for Duluth.
. . .When a staffer was confronted a two and a half weeks ago at yet another private event, he said that they'd announce the "special" event for Duluth the following week. . . .
Now, Bluestem doesn't endorse Pusey's framing of Cravaack's itinerary--Cravaack's visits to the district (though not the Duluth part of it) are documented in his campaign's twitpic stream.
That's where we found this marvelous picture of Cravaack "getting ready to walk in the Nimrod Parade," in the town of 69 people in Wadena County. It's definitely not a special event in Duluth, whatever one thinks of Nimrod.
Over in the Eighth Congressional district's largest city, the Duluth News Tribune-which had endorsed Cravaack in 2010--is getting a bit testy about the nimrod parade. Veteran Forum chain political reporter Don Davis writes in Capitol Chatter: Cravaack’s next public visit in Duluth slated for October:
U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn., spent time in Northeastern Minnesota last week, but don’t expect the congressman to visit a Duluth community hall any time soon, Duluth News Tribune reporter Mike Creger says.
Cravaack said his next public appearance in his district’s largest city will be Oct. 9, the date of a debate with Democratic opponent Rick Nolan sponsored by the News Tribune and the Chamber of Commerce.
And Chip Cravaack was in the area, but not really sharing his visitation with the locals in Duluth or Two Harbors. Davis writes:
On Wednesday Cravaack was in Two Harbors for a “meet and greet” campaign event after stopping in Taconite Harbor to talk about what he is calling onerous Environmental Protection Agency proposals that will stymie growth of the mining industry.
Cravaack’s campaign website and Facebook page offer no event information. The News Tribune learned about the Two Harbors evening appearance because a supporter called to inform the newspaper late in the afternoon, saying he had heard people grumble about Cravaack not spending time in the region talking to the public about issues. (emphasis added)
How special. Davis's account is accurate, since the paper was helpful and posted Meet-and-greet with Rep. Cravaack today in Two Harbors at 4:11 p.m.:
Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-North Branch, will be in Two Harbors at 6:30 p.m. today to meet residents of the 8th Congressional District. According to Cravaack’s campaign office in North Branch, the campaign event will be an informal “meet and greet” where people can speak directly to the first-term congressman. . .
The paper sent a photographer at the very least, but with a notice like that, it's not surprising that the Take Down Chip Cravaack folks missed this one--along with much of Northeastern Minnesota.
The campaign's twitpic stream features a photo of Cravaack at MNGOP's State Fair pavilion the day before the Two Harbors meet-and-greet--but nothing for ten days before the Fair visit. There's a photo of of the congressman "[t]alking to energized group of supporters tonight in Two Harbors." You can be the judge of the enthusiasm in the room by checking out the photo to the right.
Cravaack then disappears from his Twitpic stream a couple days to return in Aurora and the stealth meet-and-greet in Two Harbors.
It's baffling why Cravaack didn't invite more people sooner. With a first polling numbers coming out--from a Democratic outfit, but one that used positive statements about both Cravaack and Nolan-- the headlines read much like Minnesota Brown's Nolan leads Cravaack in MN-8 poll.
You'd think Cravaack would like to spend some time in parts of his district where lots of people live, like Duluth. Or maybe not. Brown writes:
The National Journal reports an independent poll conducted by a Democratic-aligned PAC shows DFL nominee Rick Nolan leading Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) by three points. The poll memo shows that Cravaack is far better known than Nolan, but that Nolan leads regardless. Though Nolan's 47-44 lead is well within the poll's margin of error, it's a remarkable position for him considering the huge cash advantage Cravaack has and the bruising, not always pleasant DFL primary that Nolan endured to get here.
The poll shows that when respondents are given "positive information" about both candidates, Nolan's lead increases to 7 points, showing perhaps that he has room to build more support as the campaign wears on.
Perhaps that's enough to keep Cravaack away from population centers in his district.
Photos: Cravaack getting ready for the Nimrod Parade (top); the 4:11 p.m. notice for a 6:30 p.m event in the New Tribune (paper endorsed Cravaack in 2010) (middle); An "enthusiastic" group of Cravaack supporters are intensely excited in Two Harbors Wednesday night. If they snooze, will he lose?
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