Minnesota Democrats Exposed: We will not rule out TAX INCREASES!!

Where is the defense of Carol Molnau?

Where is the defense of Carol Molnau by any Republican?

I have been wondering about this for a long time now. We all understand, as politicians, being attacked or having negative things written about us happens. However, I would challenge the readers to give me the last time a person has been picked out in such fashion by the Star tribune and Minnesota Democrats. (Maybe Cheri Yecke?)

No one in the Republican Party ever seems to come to her defense and I really am interested on why this is.

Senator Amy Klobuchar: The unpassed & messy farm bill

Amy Klobuchar has been irresponsible as a United States Senator when it comes to important farm issues. Colin Peterson should be nervous given he is the chairman and his party is in the majority of both the House and Senate. They have been unable to get anything done.

The intention of the farm bill has become misguided and the safety net for the average farm is really sad. I can not even begin to go through the litany of ways the bill could benefit the true farmers in our country during difficult economic environments.

My suggestion is this has become the "third rail" of politics and the president should call a special commission together outside of the normal political process. It should have safeguards placed in the committee so that our farmers are protected through negotiations.

We have now added class envy into the discussion of farm bills for all of you RICH farmers. (If your not RICH just give the politicians in Washington some time to figure that out and they will be coming after you soon!)

I would have you note the date of this article is from December 2007. It will likely get passed because it is an election year. I hope people understand the politics and strategy used by Senator Klobuchar are irresponsible and not helpful to farmers or taxpayers in Minnesoa.

By Kevin Diaz and NINA PETERSEN-PERLMAN
Star Tribune
December 2, 2007 - 11:47 PM

That assessment is not shared by Klobuchar, who is being advised by Dave Frederickson. He is the former head of the National Farmers Union, which has long supported cutbacks in subsidies to the nation's largest farms, where government payments are concentrated.

"Limits that would hurt family farmers would blow up the farm bill," Klobuchar said, "but I don't think an income limit of $750,000 is going to blow it up."

MEDIOCRACY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

IT IS A GOOD TIME TO BRING THIS ARTICLE BACK!!

By Mark Brunswick, Star Tribune
Last update: May 30, 2007 – 11:46 PM

Minneapolis had expected to see an increase in Local Government Aid of more than $13 million. St. Paul was due to receive an increase of more than $9 million.

"The impact of the governor's stubbornness is clear: this veto will only mean higher local property taxes and fewer cops on the streets of cities throughout the state," said Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.

And St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said Pawlenty's "decision to shift the fiscal burden onto local governments has ... jeopardized our ability to continue investing in public safety programs and provide quality core services such as parks and libraries."

__________________________________

The article by Mr. Brunswick illustrates that mediocrity is rampant with elected officials in many Minnesota cities, counties, and local government agencies.

I am often surprised at the lack of citizens who will come out during the assessment phase of their property taxes. I am always surprised at no attendance when schools, counties, and cities set their budgets every year.

It is very difficult to get administrators, department heads, and other offices to restrain their spending in up or down years because they are not accountable to taxpayers. Yet, asking them to reduce "their" budget is a real challenge. Believe me public input would make a big difference at the local level.

The public putting pressure on mayors, council members, department heads, and commissioners can work. Also, it would be a tremendous help to those of us trying to keep taxes and spending down.

I can tell you proposing no property tax increases, but finding new ways to provide services for less cost gets you a lot of heat. Higher taxes is the easy solution that requires little change from the status quo.

The remarks by Mayor Rybak and Mayor Coleman blaming their lack of fiscal leadership on Governor Pawlenty is politically partisan at best, but really, it shows any lack of basic fiscal leadership & education.

Minnesota just climbed out of the biggest budget deficit in our states history. All local governments have been aware of the yearly reductions in LGA year over year. Yet, they continue to be surprised (dishonest) year over year.

The fact that local governments in large part feel that everyone, except them, should be expected to tighten their financial belts during the largest budget crisis in state history goes against Minnesota common sense.

Mediocrity appears to be the norm, and it is evidently easier to run to St. Paul and throw a temper tantrum expecting state government to bail out local government, rather than, making the necessary decisions to bring a local government budget into fiscal order. YES IT CAN BE DONE!

1. True local leadership requires the elected officials to push back on the department heads at budget time and set the framework.
2. It requires the elected official to educate themselves on budget issues and specific line items. (You would be stunned at the lack of involvement the actual elected officials spend on the tax-payer budgets, but leave it to the administrators and department heads who will not cut their budget.)
3. I also think it is critical to restrict the proposed levy when you are setting the budget over the summer as much as you possibly can……….speaking from experience.
   

The LGA cuts were no doubt an issue that needed to be dealt with. I also think there is some renewed thinking on how we address funding for metro and rural areas. The systems and logic for how our government operates and treats funding, taxes, development, education, etc., was formulated decades ago. Minnesota has changed along with its needs and we need a new way of meeting those needs.

The part of the article I found even more troubling appears to be the expanded definitions of “core services” and “public goods”. I think politicians still hold to the expanded definition, and have not really grasped that the public is tired of massive swings in budget surplus/deficits, property taxes, local taxes, and being berated with referendum after referendum.

Maverick Republican's overturn Pawlenty VETO.... Irony breaks out at Minnesota State Capital!!

Startribune
By Mark Brunswick, Star Tribune
Last update: February 26, 2008 - 5:20 PM

“These are people who are good Republicans who left the reservation on this issue. This was a critical watershed issue, this is the largest tax increase in the history of the State of Minnesota. To have Republicans not stand against the largest tax increase that’s really baffling. It should have been an easy vote for these Republicans to have taken.”

Rep. Bud Heidgerken, R-Freeport, said he would have stepped down if he believed he did anything wrong but believes he did right for his district.

“The message they are sending to me is that 'We don’t want any independent minded people,’” Heidgerken said. “I’ll always stand up for what’s right. If that means my election than I don’t deserve to be here.”

Very disturbing post on the Transportation Bill!!

Override a Go
02/25/08
by Mary Lahammer

It appears an override attempt in the House is going to go through today. The biggest news may be that the governor appears to have let Republicans off the hook. Last week we reported that Gov. Pawlenty visited the House Republican caucus. According to a leading House Republican, the governor told House Republicans if 5-10 of them had to override than they were supposed to just do it on the first attempt. Some caucus members said if they knew the governor was going to say that they wouldn't have invited him. Some of the Republicans who voted for the bill are saying they're doing this for the governor because the bridge collapse and the fact "he's boxed himself in on transportation." We just saw Sertich and Anderson Kelliher and they were all smiles as they head into the floor session. The House Speaker also already has a press conference scheduled for 10 minutes after the floor session. You don't do that if you're not confident.

Update: I just heard from Brian McClung Pawlenty's Communications Director. McClung says the governor is "not letting anyone off the hook." McClung verified that Pawlenty did say to the Republican caucus that "If you are going to override, there's no reason to do it 3, 4, 5 times" meaning don't drag it out. Some caucus members seemed to have interpreted that as letting votes off the hook, McClung says that was not the governor's goal. Pawlenty has been working phones from D.C. this morning, calling House Republicans urging them to uphold his veto. But it seems there's some confusion over how his remarks were interpreted by caucus members.

The Mayor untips his hat: A Classic Otremba Move!!

My post of tipping my hat to Otremba was exactly to illustrate what happened today on the Transportation Bill VETO override attempt. It is a classic Otremba political move where she votes against a bill when she can, but when her feet are to the fire will vote the way the liberal caucus wants her to vote.

I think Todd County residents should mail or pass out a pair of flip-flops to Representative Otremba next time they see her. I think it is an affordable and fitting addition to her newly passed Transportation Bill.

Her office assured me last week that "the Representative viewed this as a regressive tax bill" (which it is) and would "vote it down hoping for some better alternatives later in the session."

Hope for Minnesota Republicans in District 11B

Dark Blue: Sams +10%

Dark Red: Ingebrigtsen +10%

Light Blue & Red victories by less than 10%

I should lay out a few credentials here on my qualifications for analyzing campaigns. I have been a part of many winning campaigns. I have been apart of congressional, state, and local campaigns in various capacities. My wife was chair of the Todd County Republican Party, and by default we worked many campaigns over the four years.

On a side note, because this is online I am not going to give away the important information and strategy, but stick to the general idea of why we are starting to have hope. I also want to inspire people to call the State Republican Party and encourage them to look at the charts and numbers.

After having learned the keys to a successful campaign in college and elsewhere I did win my own campaign here in Clarissa. I also chaired a number of winning campaigns in this area and elsewhere. I enjoy the art of politics; and political strategy is one of those arts.

Some are addicted to drinking, smoking, or maybe drugs. My fix is political analysis and strategy. Yes my parents prayed for the respectable addition like drugs or alcohol. They wanted something they could at least explain to family and friends. I am sure I am still in their prayers. I hope they have gotten over most of the disappointment. But I digress......

Elections do not require as much money as people think. If you asked me if I would like to be apart of a well thought out campaign with little money, or a well funded campaign with no plan I would choose the well organized campaign with little money.

Campaigning requires time and the ability to meet personally with voters. If a candidate can put both of those qualities together effectively a winning campaign will occur on election night. The various media forms are important but not as important as the local one-on-one contact.

You may be wondering why I am showing you the Senate 11 map and saying there is hope for Republicans in 11B. After I looked at the numbers prior to the 2006 election these trends played out better than I could have imagined.

The Republican Senate Caucus helped with some key pieces of media targeting. If you see the result we have an Incumbent (Dallas Sams) who lost the southern part of Todd County and was beaten badly in the 11B section of Douglas County.

I think this model can hold true on Mary Ellen with the right candidate. I thought Austin Bleess in a normal election year would have seen this chart or something similar to it. However, 2006 was not a normal political environment for Republicans. I am convinced had the Republican House Caucus also supported the Bleess effort we might be looking at a very different political landscape today.

However, what we are left with this time around is HOPE. David Kircher needs to look at this map to begin his strategy efforts. If he can pull this same chart off and capitalize on his connections around his Commissioner District he has a real shot if national and state politics remain irrelevant.

One area to consider that is different from the Senate strategy is how to deal with a staunchly Democrat northern county because it is more relevant statistically in the 11B race.

I heard Michael Barrett say that the State Republicans might be targeting MEO today at the convention. I would like for someone to confirm that because I have heard the opposite from people in the know down in St. Paul. I hope they are looking at this chart. At a minimum Kircher needs to take this chart and convince the party down in St. Paul now that he has the nomination in hand.

Kircher wins decisive Todd/Douglas 11B Nomination

It was a quick and decisive victory for Commissioner, and former Sheriff, David Kircher. After a round of nominations and speeches by both candidates Kircher came away with a 42 to 29 vote victory. The vote was one shy of the needed majority, however, his opponent conceded after the first round handing the endorsement to a pleased David Kircher.

Kircher gave many compliments and spoke kindly of Kevin Jenkins. He pledged to fight a good and clean campaign.

After Convention thoughts:

The County convention was as packed as can be remembered in recent memory. I feel a little bad for a few new comers today because the process can be a bit anti-climactic. The convention’s primary purpose is to vote a few times to elect delegates, but a majority of time is spent going over pages of resolutions.

I think we as Republican leaders will need to refine the process starting at the caucus level based on my conversations with many voters. I do think this is a GREAT problem to have. However, we want to make sure we are meeting expectations in the future.

I can tell you those who ran the caucuses (including myself) were all caught by surprise on Super Tuesday. More time should have been dedicated to explaining to the new attendees the process and purpose of the county conventions, resolution proposals, and overall endorsement process. The Republican Party should do a quick DVD presentation and post it on the GOP website.

I know many wished they had been better prepared to submit resolutions. I was disappointed at how those who took the time to prepare resolutions and have them brought to today’s county convention were treated. I think there should have been some greater accommodation this time around especially since delegates sit there for eight hours.

It is not a complaint against any one person because I know how hard these things are to plan and control. Just a 20/20 hindsight view we will have to remember to do next time if the crowds continue to be so large.

It was a great day for our United States of America.

They Mayor tips his hat to Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba (D-Long Prairie)

I have been critical of Representative Otremba on my blog in a wide array of policy areas. I have a couple sources down in St. Paul who said: "to say the Democrat Caucus leaned on Otremba hard is an understatement and there were many real threats."

I will give Otremba credit here. Representative Otremba did vote correctly on this one, and I hope she will vote to sustain the veto. The fact we are ramming this bill through before the forecast comes out next week is just poor governing on the part of Democratic Leadership.

It also shows that Mary Ellen is a very savvy politician. Her caucus should take note rather than making threats.

One Vote Shy of Veto-Proof
02/21/08
by Mary Lahammer

It was a nail-biter, but the House passed the transportation bill 89-44, that's one vote shy of a veto-proof majority. I counted a couple of Dems voting no: Otremba and Lesch. It appears 6 Republicans voted yes: Abler, Erhardt, Heidgerken, Hamilton and Neil Peterson. So party lines went both ways. Democrats have to shore up their ranks if they have any shot at an override. I certainly didn't see the no vote coming from Lesch. Otremba was expected to be iffy and word has it she's been leaned on very hard from her caucus. Just because a handful of Republicans voted for this doesn't necessarily mean they would vote on an override. The Senate passed it at 9:30 tonight by a 47-20 margin now they'll try to get this to the governor's desk by the end of the day to speed its veto as soon as Friday and possible override next week.

Main Street Development for Small Cities

Summary of Main Street Program Efforts
(Levelland 2004 Comprehensive Plan)

A Main Street Program must include measures to improve the overall quality of the downtown area.

• Development, maintenance of a website that advances business and development.
  
• Capitalization on an "Anchor-store or business" as a stimulus and opportunity for downtown economic activity and way-finding signage to interconnect the area and the downtown.
  
• Media/Marketing effort to include TV spots, radio spots, newspaper ads, a preservation awareness week, Main Street brochures, and marketing efforts through partnerships with downtown merchants.

• Creation of an advisory board and Main Street workshops
  
• Volunteerism: as needed, volunteers would be recruited for various activities aimed at
  improving the downtown and Main Street Program
  
• Recruitment of a chain store to help anchor downtown economic activity
  
• Downtown business networking lunches
  
• Research Arts and Entertainment Districts
  
• Replacement or upgrade infastructure and improvements of accessibility

Festival Concepts:

• Farmer’s Market
  
• Christmas on the Square
  
• Monthly Retail Event
• Summer Fest
• Clarissa Bi-Annual Rodeo
• Snowmobile race weekend

Design Guidelines:

• Temporary gateway entries
  
• Permanent gateway entries
  
• Year-round lighting on buildings
  
• Streetscaping (benches, planters, trashcans, etc.)
  
• Landscaped parking
  
• Public art

Future Main Street Considerations:

• Hotel recruitment

The downtown strategy should be one that fosters a pedestrian friendly and attractive environment and in turn bringing economic success and civic pride.

• Historic tourism
  
• Museum

Just when I thought state government couldn’t get any DUMBER...... Governor Pawlenty TOTALLY redeems it!!

You may remember the title line from a favorite movie of mine.

Pawlenty orders Hiring Freeze in Minnesota!!

Tim Pawlenty knows just how to make the conservatives in Minnesota happy. It is again a great move on many levels. This is a prudent budget move in what appears to be a slowing economy that will help control spending and put some real pressure on our “Taxeous Spendeous” Democrats in St. Paul.

Pawlenty also gets BONUS POINTS as he gets conservatives behind him once again in a true “Reganesque” move. As an economist I must admit when I got the news in from my wife on this move I was a little teary-eyed and choked-up.

Great Job Governor Pawlenty!!

Taxpayers League 2007 Report supports Mary Ellen Otremba (D-Long Prairie)

I just choked on my Slim-Fast shake this morning when I was viewing my Minnesota Taxpayers League RSS Feed. Why do Conservatives and Republicans think we need the “token” Democrat in our literature to show just how friendly and open-minded we are?

Conservative organizations are yet again getting behind their candidate out here in District 11B, but this time early on. You might be surprised that they have basically endorsed Mary Ellen Otremba: (D-Long Prairie). Pull up the just released 2007 Report, and you will see her picture with Republican Minority Leader Marty Seifert as “Friends of the Taxpayer”.

If you will remember the last election MCCL sent up their Executive Director and President during different times to trash the candidacy of Republican Candidate Austin Bleess who was 100% pro-life. We now have social conservatives and fiscal conservatives giving Otremba all the ammunition she needs for this election cycle. Mary Ellen Otremba has had a miserable voting record of thirty-three percent yet what better campaign literature could a politician ask for?

This does confirm Republican Leadership in St. Paul is comfortable with conservative Democrats and will not put in the effort to unseat them. They completely disregard the success that we had in defeating Senator Dallas Sams and Majority Leader Dean Johnson in what was an overwhelmingly Democratic year. We had the support of the Republican Senate Caucus and highlighted the conservative message clearly and won.

Come on Taxpayers League give us a break.

FRIEND OF THE TAXPAYER
2007 Friend of Taxpayers League Report

House Minority Leader
Marty Seifert (R-Marshall)

As the leader of a caucus with just 49 Representatives, Rep. Seifert was able to successfully hold his members together through difficult circumstances. And largely due to the leadership of Rep. Seifert, not a single Republican voted to override a gubernatorial veto. Most notably, House Republicans sustained the lone override attempt of the 2007 legislative session: a tax increase that would have amounted to $1.5 billion (House vote #1).

State Representative
Mary Ellen Otremba (DFL-Long Prairie)
There aren’t many bright spots among the members of the tax-and-spend caucus, but Rep. Otremba provided a ray of hope. Rep. Otremba opposed a sales tax increase for arts and recreation (House vote #3) and hordes of tax and fee increases in many other bills. Rep. Otremba truly showed courage by bucking the leaders of her liberal tax-and-spend caucus. She even voted to sustain the Governor’s veto of the multi-billion dollar transportation bill.

Mayor Nathan McLaughlin
http://smallcitymayor.blogspot.com/

Mary Ellen Otremba & Todd County Media

One of the problems Republican candidates have here in Todd County remains the radio and newspaper media coverage of any Democrat, but especially local Democrats.

My blog is a small attempt at trying to report a lot of the political facts that are just out there waiting to be published and brought to light. I think this type of reporting is an area that would actually increase local readership and advertising because it is interesting reading; however, I will explain why this reporting is not done by local media later on in this article.

One way the Republican messages can get out is to bypass traditional media using technology like the internet and maybe a blog. Might I even suggest passing this blog: America's Small City Mayor on to others that might be interested as a source for conservative political & local news and analysis? I plan on obtaining personal interviews of local candidates, video footage, and sound bites so that people can see and hear for themselves what our elected officials are saying.

You will find tremendous front page and radio coverage of any Democratic press release or event. Republicans received less than token coverage, and any coverage will be buried in some obscure section. Sure they will occasionally give a front page article to a Republican now and then, but it will be at a time that is politically unimportant, or does not pose a threat to the preferred candidate.

It is just one of the facts of politics in this area. A candidate needs to be aware of this, and should not be caught publically whining about it. Rather, he/she should develop a strategy and alternatives to getting the word out. (Side note: Letter to the Editor campaigns are useless for the most part because editors sensor these quite heavily too.)

I know Mary Ellen Otremba has not had a negative report on her or any article questioning her votes. She is untouchable from all of the papers and radio throughout this area for a few reasons.

• The newspaper & radio owners, reporters, and editors really do like Mary Ellen on a personal basis. (Mary Ellen is likeable if you have not met her) Mary Ellen is a very hard year round campaigner who is everywhere and at every event. It has lead to a strong relationship over the past decade, and the owners would personally feel bad about reporting something negative.

• Second and I think the real reason is a worry about loss of advertising and readership by many of the small papers and radio stations. This is close-knit, Minnesota nice area, and an article written about Mary Ellen or (Ingebrigtsen now that we have a Republican) that even shines a question to fundraising or voting records would flood the offices with unwanted phone calls. The papers here are family run businesses so controversial reporting just is not the general practice regarding politics or news otherwise.

This is why blogs and internet media have expanded in influence. I do not make money doing this, nor am I worried about losing advertising or readership. As a politician I like to hear myself talk so this is a perfect solution. (At least that is what my wife says when she sends me down here to my computer........LOL)

Anyways here are two events that went largely ignored by the press. I thought I would at least get them out there.

September 2005

1. During 2004, the Mary Ellen Otremba Volunteer Committee accepted $5,900 in contributions from special sources. These sources include registered lobbyists from whom the Committee accepted $200, and political committees or political funds from which the Committee accepted $5,700. The total amount of these contributions exceeded by $200 the applicable limit on aggregate contributions from special sources, which for this candidate was $5,700. The amount of the excess contributions was not returned to the contributors within 60 days as required by Minn. Stat. §10A.15, subd. 3.

2. By letter dated August 9, 2005, Representative Otremba indicated that she meant to return the excess amount within 60 days, but that she inadvertently misplaced the letter returning the check. Representative Otremba provided a copy of the check and accompanying letter returning the contribution on July 30, 2005.

May 2002

1. During calendar year 2001, the Mary Ellen Otremba Volunteer Committee accepted a contribution which facially exceeded the $100 non-election year limit for an individual contribution as set out in Minn. Stat. §10A.27, subd. 1(a)(5). The contribution exceeded the applicable limit by $25. The amount of the excess contribution was returned by the committee, but not within 60 days as required by Minn. Stat. §10A.15, subd. 3.

Happy Birthday Ronald Reagan

"And whatever else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts. My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty's lamp guiding your steps and opportunity's arm steadying your way. My fondest hope for each one of you — and especially for young people — is that you will love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism. May each of you have the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, and the hand to execute works that will make the world a little better for your having been here. May all of you as Americans never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek divine guidance, and never lose your natural, God-given optimism. And finally, my fellow Americans, may every dawn be a great new beginning for America and every evening bring us closer to that shining city upon a hill." —Ronald Reagan (Kudlowmoneypolitics.com 2008)

Kevin Jenkins running for District 11B

February 1st,

Dear Fellow District 11B Republican,

I am seeking your support in my effort to run for the office of State Representative in District 11B.

I was born and raised in Staples, then lived and worked in the Twin Cities until I returned eight years ago to open and operate T Maxwell's Restaurant and Banquet Facility in Staples, where I am active in Republican politics.

With your loyal support, I am convinced we can win back the seat Republicans once held and I promise to work day and night to achieve that goal.

Many years ago someone said, "The world is run by those who show up." Those are wise words to live by - especially in politics. This Tuesday we have our precinct caucuses. I appeal to you to attend. Let's have the biggest "show up" our district has ever seen - and start turning things around in this state.

As a conservative, pro-life, pro-Constitution Republican who believes in lower taxes and limited government, I want to do my part in turning things around as your State Representative. To do it, I will need your support. I assure you I will earn it.

Sincerely,

Kevin R. Jenkins


Paid for by Kevin R. Jenkins in his own behalf.

Mary Ellen Otremba & Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen Campaign Disclosures 2004-2007

I find the Minnesota Campaign Finance Disclosure Reports of Republicans and Democrats to be very interesting. I thought I would start to pull them into one area on my blog for easy access since we are entering campaign season again.

A couple interesting observations: In Otremba's reports you will see a substantial amount of money comes from a number of different Indian Tribes in Minnesota.

Also, a majority of financial support from individuals and special interest groups are not actually within Todd & Douglas County.

Mary Ellen Otremba: (D- Long Prairie: MN 11B)

http://www.cfbreport.state.mn.us/pdfStorage/2004/CampFin/YE/14823.pdf

http://www.cfbreport.state.mn.us/pdfStorage/2005/CampFin/YE/14823.pdf

http://www.cfbreport.state.mn.us/pdfStorage/2006/CampFin/YE/14823.pdf

http://www.cfbreport.state.mn.us/pdfStorage/2006/CampFin/B/14823.pdf

http://www.cfbreport.state.mn.us/pdfStorage/2006/CampFin/A/14823.pdf

Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria: MN SD11)


The senators finances are quite different because you will see a lot of individual support from family and supporters within his district. I should also note that I did work on his advisory committee and it was truly and enjoyable campaign with real grassroots efforts.

http://www.cfbreport.state.mn.us/pdfStorage/2006/CampFin/A/16311.pdf

http://www.cfbreport.state.mn.us/pdfStorage/2006/CampFin/B/16311.pdf

http://www.cfbreport.state.mn.us/pdfStorage/2006/CampFin/A/16311.pdf

Obama sells out Minnesota Target Center

The odds do continue to surprise given the news reports last night.

Sen. Obama sold out the Target Center on Saturday, and there is a waiting list (in the thousands) for the event.

I really doubt Sen. Clinton or President Clinton could pull off such a feat right now. It will be very interesting to see Super Tuesday and how electorally rich places like California and the North East play out because polls still show Clinton very strong.

I think Clinton remains the favorite and will still win the Nomination as I predicted earlier. When you look at it on paper that is how it looks, though my gut is starting to feel otherwise given the large crowds for Obama.

Current Odds on Intrade.com

Republican Presidential Nominee in 2008
McCain: 83.5%
Romney: 11.6%

Democratic Presidential Nominee in 2008
Clinton: 60.0%
Obama: 37.1%

To Win 2008 US Presidential Election
Clinton: 35.2%
McCain: 34.6%