MINNESOTA: February 5 is Caucus Day

First, if you do not know where to caucus today, click here to find your precinct location. If you still need some help choosing a candidate, visit Minnesota Public Radio's "Select-a-Candidate" page. Also, check out Super Tuesday Open Discussion.

Race for the Senate

The Minnesota Senate primary race has been interesting so far. Some Minnesotans were worried there wouldn't be a viable candidate to face Senator Norm Coleman. Some were certain that incumbent Coleman would have no problem pulling off an easy win. The choices are now Coleman (R), Mike Ciresi (D), Al Franken (D) and Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer (D).  A campaign for Jim Cohen (D) never managed to gain traction and he dropped out of the race.

Nelson-Pallmeyer is probably the name you have heard the least, Ciresi having received recognition during the Dalkon Shield and tobacco trials and Franken being - well, Franken. Nelson-Pallmeyer attended Coon Rapids High School then went on to study Political Science at St. Olaf. In addition to being a St. Olaf graduate, he received a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He is Assistant Professor of Justice and Peace Studies at St. Thomas University in Minneapolis. He has an interesting background that includes co-directing studies in Managua, Nicaragua in conjunction with Augsburg College, two years directing the Hunger and Justice Project, and extensive writing and speaking engagements on the subjects of faith, hunger, the arms race and U.S. foreign policy.

Franken is well-known for being a satirist who grew up in Minnesota, but what people might not realize is that he is not just funny; he's smart. He graduated from Harvard and has written five best-selling "funny" books and had great success co-writing more serious work as well. If you haven't heard him speak lately, you should. He has sincere positions on the issues that plague us all these days - including the issue of accountability. For Franken, it's not all about collecting taxes - but accountability from the powers that be regarding what they do with the taxes they collect.  "If we are going to entrust government with our hard-earned tax dollars and the responsibility of providing security and opportunity for our families, we must demand accountability," he says on his website.

Ciresi received his law degree from the University of Minnesota and is currently Chairman of the Executive Board at the Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi law firm. His name hit the spotlight when he worked on the Dalkon Shield case, representing women who had suffered due to the manufacturer's defective IUD. He later represented the State of Minnesota and Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota in a well-publicized case against Big Tobacco. Ciresi ran for U.S. Senate back in 2000, but was defeated by Mark Dayton.

Coleman is the Republican that the Democrats hope to unseat. He became a U.S. Senator in 2003 after serving as the mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota from 1994 to 2002. Notably, he first won the mayoral seat as a Democrat but switched to the Republican party two years later. In 1998, he ran for Governor of Minnesota but was defeated by independent Jesse Ventura. He currently serves on four congressional committees and is known for being a "Bush voter" although he is voting with the administration less than he has in the past.

Presidential Primary

Here are links to presidential candidate websites: Barack Obama (D), Hillary Clinton (D), John McCain (R), Mike Huckabee (R), Mitt Romney (R), and Ron Paul (R).

A January 31 poll by Minnesota Public Radio had Clinton leading Obama 40% to 33%, and McCain leading the Republicans with 41%.

It's going to be a tight race all around the country and that includes here in Minnesota so stay tuned. Caucuses open at 7 p.m. Check out Secretary of State's Caucus Finder if you don't know where to go or need other information.

Related Articles:

Obama is the Better Clinton by Gretchen Lee Bourquin
Preview of Super Tuesday by Chris W.
Gather is Hosting a Super Tuesday Virtual Returns Watching Party by Jennifer Hodge
Gatherers for John McCain by Peter C. Frank
California: Two Dead Heats by Dave McGill
Super Tuesday Open Discussion by Julia Schrenkler (includes link to Senate Debate)