Don Davis
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Don Davis has been the Forum Communications Minnesota Capitol Bureau chief since 2001, covering state government and politics for two dozen newspapers in the state. Don also blogs at Capital Chatter on Areavoices.
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ST. PAUL -- Minnesotans may disagree about a pair of proposed constitutional amendments and may not see eye to eye on candidates, but they agree on one thing: They want their voices heard. Big voter turnout was reported in much of the state, despite cloudy, damp, chilly weather. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie had predicted 3 million Minnesotans, 78 percent of eligible voters, would go to the polls Tuesday. The story from Bemidji was typical. The first voter arrived about 6:25 a.m. at Northwest Technical College, well in advance of the 7 a.m.
ST. PAUL -- A battle about whether to define marriage as only between a man and woman produced the most expensive Minnesota constitutional amendment campaign ever, but regardless of the outcome nothing will change soon. As voters entered polling places Tuesday, it appeared the question would be close and Minnesotans would be in for a long wait to see how it came out. The battle has been brewing for years, with a May 2011 state Legislature vote to put the proposal on the ballot signaling the real start of the most extensive ballot question campaign in state history.
ST. PAUL -- Minnesota Voters decided Tuesday if they would be required to prove who they are in elections beginning next year. Election officials said they know of little voter fraud and said the constitutional amendment would cost millions of dollars, but supporters said that democracy demands fair elections. To ensure fairness, they said, Minnesotans must submit photographic identifications before voting. The voter ID concept was pushed by legislative Republicans.
ST. PAUL -- Minnesotans may disagree about a pair of proposed constitutional amendments and may not see eye to eye on candidates, but they agree on one thing: They want their voices heard. Big voter turnout was reported in many areas, despite cloudy, damp, chilly weather. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie had predicted 3 million Minnesotans, 78 percent of eligible voters, would go to the polls today.
ST. PAUL -- Presidential candidates have all but ignored Minnesota. The U.S. Senate race has been a snoozer, as have some U.S. House races. But get down the ballot a ways and two proposed constitutional amendments have generated plenty of sparks.
ST. PAUL -- If the final Minnesota U.S. Senate debate did nothing else, it showed the political distance between the two candidates. Republican challenger Kurt Bills added distance between his views and those of U.S. Sen.
State Rep. John Kriesel's dramatic speech in the Minnesota House opposing a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage is featured in a television commercial for amendment opponents Minnesotans United for All Families. The Cottage Grove lawmaker joined Rep. Tim Kelly of Red Wing as the only two Republicans to vote against the amendment, which will be in front of voters Nov. 6.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The favorite old standby delivered a 38-minute speech. The young up-and-comer's speech was shorter than three minutes. The veteran speaker threw red political meat to his supporters. The rookie national politician thanked people for donating canned meat. Democratic former President Bill Clinton and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan delivered different messages Tuesday in speeches along the Minnesota-Wisconsin state line. Speaking in Minneapolis and Duluth, Clinton attacked GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, which is known in political circles as throwing
MINNEAPOLIS -- Former President Bill Clinton rallied the Democratic faithful today on behalf of President Barack Obama, and the campaign used events in Minneapolis and Duluth to snare volunteers for the last week of campaign season. "I think Barack Obama has taken good care of this country," Clinton told a packed University of Minnesota campus rally in Minneapolis during a 38-minute speech. Clinton is the highest-level Obama speaker expected in Minnesota as the campaign nears an end.
ST. PAUL -- Former President Bill Clinton plans campaign stops in Minnesota Tuesday after appearing in Fargo, N.D., tonight. President Barack Obama's campaign said details about Clinton's visit would be released later, but he is expected to be in the Twin Cities and Duluth. There also were unconfirmed reports that Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney or his running mate, Paul Ryan, would stop in Minnesota this week.