In the Know: September 18, 2018

3 days until early voting opens, Sept. 21
49 days until Election Day

2018 Election
Why are you voting in November?


Political roundtable: Why do polls show Democrats in the lead? MPR
How the ‘tracker’ became strangest, most important job in campaign politics, MinnPost

If you’ve ever paid even the smallest bit of attention, you know the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid.” That line entered our political lexicon during the 1992 presidential campaign, when James Carville, a strategist for the presidential bid of then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, scrawled it on a whiteboard in Clinton’s campaign headquarters. The message was simple — and right: Voters care first, second and third about the economy, as understood by how they were feeling about their own financial well-being. Everything else was just noise.

And for the next three decades or so, that mantra has ruled electoral politics. How the economy is doing — or is perceived to be doing — will tell you everything you need to know about a candidate or a party’s chances of winning. Which brings us to the current moment — and the current President: Donald Trump.

  • Why the disconnect? A new piece of data from Gallup provides the answer — or at least an answer. Just 12% of people say that any aspect of the economy is the most important issue facing the country. That’s the lowest score ever recorded for the economy on that question, which Gallup has been asking since 1991 in its current form.
  • What’s replaced the economy as the most important issue? According to Gallup, it’s “dissatisfaction with government/poor leadership.” In the latest Gallup survey, 29% cited unhappiness with the government and its leaders as the country’s most pressing problem. CNN

2018 Election — U.S. Senate
GOP in striking distance to re-take Franken seat, The Hill

2018 Election — U.S. House
In CD2, DFL challenger Angie Craig’s campaign said Friday that several radio stations had pulled an ad paid for by the NRCC due to “its many false and misleading attacks.” The ad had attacked Craig as corrupt over legal controversies at her former employers, Smith & Nephew and St. Jude Medical, that she maintained had nothing to do with her role at those companies. The campaign said that Entercom – which owns KMNB 102.9, KZJK 104.1, and WCCO 830AM – had suspended the ad at its own request. An email to Entercom seeking confirmation was not returned over the weekend. Star Tribune


2018 Election — Governor
Major GOP group cancels two weeks worth of advertising for Minnesota’s governor’s race, Daily Kos

Agriculture
Klobuchar talks ethanol: Senator visits Green Plant in FF, Fergus Falls Daily Journal

Kavanaugh, Brett
Poll: Minnesotans were split on Kavanaugh even before allegations, MPR
GOP plans Senate hearing next week for for Kavanaugh, accuser, Star Tribune
Senate should get to the bottom of Kavanaugh allegations, Star Tribune
Kavanaugh becomes September surprise for midterm candidates, The Hill
Withdraw Kavanaugh nomination? Ridiculous says, Trump, Star Tribune



Legislature
What the current population trends mean for Minnesota’s legislative district boundaries – and politics, MinnPost

Tariffs
Trump sets tariffs on $200 billion on imports from China, MPR

Trump
Trump has been lucky so far to to avoid a foreign policy crisis. But his luck won’t last forever. MinnPost

Wardlow, Doug

Upcoming DFL Events

  • September 18
    • 9:00 AM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Bloomington Campaign Office Staffing Help, 2950 Metro Dr, Suite 117, Bloomington, MN 55425. Email Jens at jundin@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Brooklyn Park Office Open for Volunteers, 2937 Brookdale Dr, Brooklyn Park, MN 55444
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Eden Prairie Campaign Office Staffing Help, 10165 Hennepin Town Rd, Unit 109, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Email Laura at lhelgen@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 12:00 PM — CD3 Coon Rapids Coordianted Campaign Door Knock, 2923 Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
    • 1:00 PM — DFL Outreach and Inclusion Committee Meeting, 255 Plato Blvd E, St. Paul, MN 55107. If you’re a party Outreach Officer, contact the State DFL if you haven’t received information on how to participate in this meeting/call.
    • 1:30 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 6:00 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
  • September 19
    • 9:00 AM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Bloomington Campaign Office Staffing Help, 2950 Metro Dr, Suite 117, Bloomington, MN 55425. Email Jens at jundin@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Brooklyn Park Office Open for Volunteers, 2937 Brookdale Dr, Brooklyn Park, MN 55444
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Eden Prairie Campaign Office Staffing Help, 10165 Hennepin Town Rd, Unit 109, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Email Laura at lhelgen@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 1:30 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 5:00 PM — Parties’ and Women Candidates’ Prospect for Success with DFL Chair Ken Martin and GOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, 301 19th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55454. The event is free. register here.
    • 6:00 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 6:00 PM — Ethiopian Coffee Hour hosted at the DFL Field Office, 4407 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406.
    • 7:00 PM — CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Council Chambers, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
  • September 20
    • 9:00 AM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Bloomington Campaign Office Staffing Help, 2950 Metro Dr, Suite 117, Bloomington, MN 55425. Email Jens at jundin@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Brooklyn Park Office Open for Volunteers, 2937 Brookdale Dr, Brooklyn Park, MN 55444
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Eden Prairie Campaign Office Staffing Help, 10165 Hennepin Town Rd, Unit 109, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Email Laura at lhelgen@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 1:30 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 6:00 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 7:00 PM — SD34 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available.
  • September 21
    • Early Voting for the November Election can be done today through November 5. 
    • 9:00 AM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Bloomington Campaign Office Staffing Help, 2950 Metro Dr, Suite 117, Bloomington, MN 55425. Email Jens at jundin@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Eden Prairie Campaign Office Staffing Help, 10165 Hennepin Town Rd, Unit 109, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Email Laura at lhelgen@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 12:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, corner of Brookdale and Xerxes, Brookyn Park. SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schaefer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance here. Join him if you can.
    • 1:30 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 6:00 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
  • September 22
    • Today and tomorrow — Weekend of Action, find an office near you and see what events are available here
    • 9:00 AM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Bloomington Campaign Office Staffing Help, 2950 Metro Dr, Suite 117, Bloomington, MN 55425. Email Jens at jundin@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Brooklyn Park Office Open for Volunteers, 2937 Brookdale Dr, Brooklyn Park, MN 55444
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Eden Prairie Campaign Office Staffing Help, 10165 Hennepin Town Rd, Unit 109, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Email Laura at lhelgen@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 12:00 PM — CD3 Brooklyn Park Door Knock Kick Off with Secretary of State Steve Simon, 2937 Brookdale Dr, Brooklyn Park, MN 55444
    • 1:30 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 2:00 PM — CD3 Eden Prairie Office DFL Early Voting Kick Off Event with U.S. Rep. and Governor Candidate Tim Walz.
    • 3:00 PM — SD40 DFL Executive Committee Meeting, Brookdale Library, Room AB, 6126 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
    • 6:00 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
  • September 23
    • Today — Weekend of Action, find an office near you and see what events are available here
    • 9:00 AM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Bloomington Campaign Office Staffing Help, 2950 Metro Dr, Suite 117, Bloomington, MN 55425. Email Jens at jundin@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Eden Prairie Campaign Office Staffing Help, 10165 Hennepin Town Rd, Unit 109, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Email Laura at lhelgen@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 2:00 PM — Indivisible MN03 Town Hall on Election Integrity and Voting Rights with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430.
    • 2:00 PM — CD3 Brooklyn Park Office Open for Volunteers, 2937 Brookdale Dr, Brooklyn Park, MN 55444. Email Decontee at dsawyer@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 1:30 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 6:00 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
  • September 24
    • 9:00 AM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Bloomington Campaign Office Staffing Help, 2950 Metro Dr, Suite 117, Bloomington, MN 55425. Email Jens at jundin@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Brooklyn Park Office Open for Volunteers, 2937 Brookdale Dr, Brooklyn Park, MN 55444. Email Decontee at dsawyer@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 10:00 AM — CD3 Eden Prairie Campaign Office Staffing Help, 10165 Hennepin Town Rd, Unit 109, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Email Laura at lhelgen@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 1:30 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.
    • 6:00 PM — CD3 Plymouth Campaign Office Staffing Help, 187 Cheshire Ln, Plymouth, MN 55441. Email Mia at mberman@dfl.org if you can help.