August 2007
By Eric Ostermeier on August 31, 2007
Mitt Romney has opened up a 10-point lead in the latest American Research Group (ARG) poll of likely Republican Iowa caucus voters. Romney had trailed Giuliani by one point in ARG's previous poll in late July, but the former Massachusetts Governor now leads all GOP contenders in the most recent...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 30, 2007
Senator Norm Coleman has taken advantage of two events this week to demonstrate to his Minnesota constituency that he is a centrist, independent voice for the state. In both cases he was critical of fellow prominent Republicans in Washington, D.C. On Monday, in response to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' resignation,...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 29, 2007
On Tuesday evening Sioux Falls hosted a "Welcome Back" celebration marking Democratic Senator Tim Johnson's birthday and return to South Dakota for the first time since nearly losing his life last December. The Senator spoke for a little more than 10 minutes and declared, "I am back," to a...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 27, 2007
Despite surging to large double-digit leads in national Democratic presidential nomination polls, Hillary Clinton's support in the Badger State appears to remain stagnant. In the most recent Gallup national poll taken in mid-August, Clinton had a 21-point lead over Barack Obama, 42 to 21 percent. The fact that Clinton nearly...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 22, 2007
In the first public poll conducted after the Iowa Republican Straw Poll, Mitt Romney has jumped out to his biggest lead to date. Romney, who won the straw poll with 32 percent, received 33 percent of the support of likely Iowa Republican caucus voters, in a telephone survey conducted by...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 21, 2007
For the first time in five Zogby polls of likely Democratic caucus voters conducted in Iowa this year, Hillary Clinton has moved into sole possession of first place. At 30 percent, Clinton's measured support is also the highest received by any Democratic candidate in Zogby's 2007 horserace polling in the...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 20, 2007
The nation-wide partisan swing from the Republicans to the Democrats in 2006 was felt across the United States in a number of statewide and district races. Democrats won a majority of governorships, took back control of the U.S. House and Senate, and won back several state legislative chambers. This change...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 17, 2007
South Dakota, one of the most reliably Republican states in the Midwest, will be an interesting state to watch in 2008. First, the state will have a high-profile Senate race, whether or not the state's senior Senator, Democrat Tim Johnson, decides to run for a third term. Johnson is...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 14, 2007
12:00 pm. Jim Ramstad's speech today is entitled "Life as a Centrist in the New Congress." Ramstad has touted his moderate, centrist credentials in recent years, and there is evidence in his voting record to bolster this claim. In 2006, the Republican congressman was rated fairly dead center -- the...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 13, 2007
Smart Politics will be blogging live covering Republican Congressman Jim Ramstad (MN-03) from the Humphrey Institute on Tuesday, August 14th, from Noon to 1:15 pm. The talk, sponsored by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance, is entitled " "Life as a Centrist in the New Congress" and...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 13, 2007
Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson officially ended his campaign to win the Republican nomination this weekend, after a disappointing 6th place finish in an Iowa Straw Poll that was missing three of the GOP's top-tier candidates. Thompson had previously stated he would likely end his presidential bid if he...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 11, 2007
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney met expectations by easily winning the GOP Iowa Straw Poll on Saturday, garnering 31.5 percent of the vote. Romney was expected to win because of his strong showing in early scientific polls and due to the no-shows at the Straw Poll of three other top...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 10, 2007
A new poll conducted by the University of Iowa gives an insight into the inroads the Democratic Party may still be making—building off their success in the 2006 Election. A survey conducted July 29—August 5 of 907 registered voters asked an open-ended question of Iowans as to whom they would...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 8, 2007
Republican Steve Drazkowski defeated DFL candidate Linda Pfeilsticker 52.9 to 46.9 percent in a special election in House District 28B to replace former Rep. Steve Sviggum on Tuesday. While Ron Carey, the state Republican Party Chairman characterized Drazkowski's win as signaling "growing Republican momentum as we head into 2008," the...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 8, 2007
As the first state to select delegates in Election 2008, the Iowa caucuses are understandably considered very important in the presidential nomination process. The caucuses present an opportunity for national frontrunners to solidify their lead as well as underdogs in national polls to gain momentum heading into New Hampshire...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 5, 2007
The first ABC News / Washington Post poll of likely Iowa caucus voters finds it tight at the top on the Democratic side and Mitt Romney with a double-digit lead over his GOP rivals. The poll was conducted July 26-31 among 500 likely Democratic caucus voters (MoE = ±...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 3, 2007
Minnesota Senators Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar spearheaded federal legislation on Thursday to not only provide funds to rebuild the I-35 bridge, but also improve infrastructure problems nationwide. The Senators first called on the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) to immediately release emergency relief funding for the I-35W bridge disaster. However,...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 2, 2007
Minnesota Senators Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar released a joint statement tonight on the tragic I-35 bridge collapse over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis that occurred on Wednesday evening. Minnesota Senators Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar send their thoughts and prayers to the people of Minnesota, and pledge the full...
By Eric Ostermeier on August 1, 2007
There are good reasons the Democratic Party is targeting Minnesota for one of their best chances at a pick-up in the 2008 elections for the U.S. Senate. First, Republican incumbent Norm Coleman's job approval ratings have generally been mediocre to just south of mediocre throughout most of his four...
