Political Notebook

Final Walz-Quist showdown tonight in Mankato

The third and final debate between 1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz and Republican Allen Quist is tonight in Mankato.

The debate begins at 7 p.m. at Minnesota State University — Mankato's Ostrander Auditorium. It is a 90-minute debate sponsored by Debate Minnesota and will be live streamed on the Mankato Free Press website and the Debate Minnesota website. It is free and open to the public.

If it's anything like their first debate in Byron last month, expect fireworks. The two also did a debate on KSTP's "At Issue." You can watch that here.

The TV ad war in the district is also heating up. Quist released his first TV ad since the Republican primary. It is focused on the marriage penalty in the federal health care law and features another of his granddaughters. You can watch it here. Meanwhile, the Walz campaign announced today it has released its second ad. This one touts Walz's efforts to pass legislation that supports veterans when they come home from war. It features Mankato veteran Mike McLaughlin, a marine who did two tours of duty in Iraq. You can watch it here.

The Walz/Quist lightning round

During yesterday's debate between DFL Rep. Tim Walz and Republican Allen Quist in Byron, the two were asked to give one or two word answers to questions as part of a lightening round (they didn't always follow those rules). As is so often the case in reporting, there simply is not enough space in print for everything that happened in the 90-minute debate. So I wanted to post their answers to these questions because I think they highlight some interesting differences between the two.

Do you think any changes in immigration law are needed to bring skilled workers in math and science fields to work for U.S. businesses?

Walz: "Yes."

Quist: "Yes to legal immigration, no to illegal immigration."

What one department or agency would you downsize or eliminate if you could?

Walz: "I think I would downsize the Department of Transportation."

Quist: "The EPA."

Do you support a voucher system for Medicare?

Walz: "Absolutely not."

Quist: "Not likely."

Should the Social Security eligible age be raised for younger workers?

Quist: "In the future."

Walz: "No."

The candidates were also asked to sum up their economic philosophy in the length of a tweet — 140 characters.

Quist: "Free enterprise works, socialism does not."

Walz: "Providing opportunities for middle class Americans to grow the economy and achieve the dream as we always have."

Walz taps football coach roots for first TV ad

 

 

DFL Congressman Tim Walz's first TV ad is on the local airwaves and it has him sporting a coaches whistle and clipboard once again.

Before winning election to congress in 2006, Walz coached football at Mankato West Senior High School. This 30-second spot has Walz back in the coaching role as a team of football players work out on the field. It opens with Walz saying, " Coaching high school football means working together toward a common goal. That's something you don't see enough of in Washington."

He touts the passage of his bill that outlaws insider trading known as the "STOCK Act." He also promises to "tackle the debt while protecting social security and Medicare."

His opponent, Republican Allen Quist, ran a TV ad featuring his granddaughter crawling up a set of stairs that becomes a red line showing the soaring national debt. He has not put on an ad yet for the general election.

Walz and Quist will face-off in their first one-on-one debate tomorrow from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Somerby Golf Club in Byron.

Walz to help launch 'Veterans United' to defeat marriage amendment

1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz is helping launch a new group tomorrow called "Veterans United" aimed at helping defeat the marriage amendment.

The group is a coalition of veterans of the armed services that oppose the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, according to a news release. Walz will be joined by Lori and Jeff Wilfahrt, whose openly-gay soldier son Andrew was killed while on a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2011. The group is connected to Minnesotans United for All Families, the main organization fighting against the marriage amendment. The kick-off will be at 10 a.m. at the state Capitol.

Walz has already spoken out against this amendment and has supported efforts to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act at the federal level. The Mankato Democrat served 24 years in the Minnesota Army National Guard and retired after achieving the rank of command sergeant major. He is the highest ranking enlisted soldier to serve in Congress.

Veterans United plans to tour the state in the weeks before the Nov. 6 election to urge defeat of the amendment. Walz's opponent, Republican Allen Quist, has said he supports the constitutional amendment, which would define marriage as being between one woman and one man.

It's interesting to note that Richard Carlbom is heading up the Minnesotans United's campaign efforts. He previously worked as Walz's campaign manager.

 

 

 

 

Quist and Walz will face-off in Roch debate next month

Mark your calendars! The 1st District congressional candidates will square-off in a debate next month in Rochester.

Republican Allen Quist and DFL incumbent Tim Walz are set to attend the debate, which will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 27 at the Somberby Golf Community in Byron. The debate is sponsored by Rochester Public Utilities and partners include the Post-Bulletin, KTTC-TV, Minnesota Public Radio and the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. KTTC-TV anchor Tom Overlie will serve as the debate moderator.

The cost to attend is $25 for chamber members and $35 for non-members and includes lunch. To register, call 507-288-1122 or go here.

Walz has challenged Quist to a series of three debates — one in Rochester on jobs and the economy, one in Mankato on veterans and energy and one televised debate at a location to be determined. Quist has said he would like to see the number of topics covered expanded to include the deficit and health care.

Parry & Quist make final campaign push

With time running out to campaign, 1st District Republican candidates Mike Parry and Allen Quist are taking starkly different approaches.

Parry, a state senator from Waseca, has launched a last-minute tour of 1st District with plans to stop in all 21 counties. He is scheduled to be in Rochester at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Beetles Bar & Grill. His campaign also released a radio ad that starting running on Friday. The upbeat ad highlights Parry's background as a businessman, veteran and state senator. The narrator says "It's time to cut government waste. We need fresh ideas and a firm commitment to live within our means and prosper." The candidate's name is sung three times during the ad. Parry's campaign also sent out two mailers last wing: one positive and one attacking Quist.

While Parry is busy crisscrossing the district, his competitor was planning to spend today responding to media calls. Quist attended several parades over the weekend but didn't have any events scheduled for today. The campaign has sent out two mailers to 12,000 likely primary voters. Quist's TV ad also continues to run on local stations.

Parry campaign goes after Quist in mailer

The fighting continues in the 1st District Republican primary.

Candidate Mike Parry's campaign sent out a mailer this week in advance of the Aug. 14 primary ripping his opponent Allen Quist. It states that Minnesota Families CAN'T trust Allen Quist." The mailer says Quist "can't be trusted on taxes" because he voted for a gas tax increase while in the Legislature in 1986. It goes after Quist for supporting a gas tax increase while in the legislature in 1986. The mailer also includes controversial statements Quist made in the past — including that men are "genetically predisposed to be the head of the household — and for failing to take responsibility for them. It says Quist's "controversial statements and out-of-the-mainstream views" make him unelectable. Click here to Download Parry campaign mailer

This mailer comes out at the same time Parry is underfire for a controversial remark he made earlier this week at a Brown County Republican fundraiser when he said he saw DFL Gov. Mark Dayton pop 15 or 16 pills during a meeting with him. Dayton has called that a lie and the act of a desperate candidate who is going to lose.

Nowhere in the mailer does it urge people to vote for Parry. Rather, it urges voters to "vote no on Allen Quist." It states in small print on the back of the mailer that it was paid for by Parry for Congress.

Quist blasted the mailer saying this is just another example of the Parry campaign going negative. He said his campaign is only sending out positive campaign pieces in advance of Tuesday's primary election.

"It's as negative as it can be — especially when it asks people to vote against somebody rather than for somebody," Quist said.

He added that the mailer takes his gas tax vote out of context, failing to note that it was part of an overall package that cut taxes by $950 million.

Parry campaign adviser Ben Golnik said the campaign piece is simply trying to point out the differences between Parry and Quist.

"Parry's position is he's not going to raise taxes even if he cuts taxes. He is going to hold the line on taxes," Golnik said.

He added the Parry campaign did send out a positive campaign mailer earlier in the week.

The winner of the primary will take on DFL 1st District Rep. Tim Walz in November.

 

 

Parry campaign says time for Quist to "man up"

The gloves are definitely off in the 1st District Republican primary. State Sen. Mike Parry's campaign sent out a press release today filled with controversial statements made by his opponent Allen Quist in the past.

"Now Quist claims his controversial statments from the past are a 'total invention,' total fabrication,' and 'total bull.' Widely reported at the time, Quist's controversial statements would be devestating in a general election campaign today,"said Parry campaign political adviser Ben Golnik.

He adds, "Will Quist come clean and take responsibility for his previous comments? It's time for perennial candidate Allen Quist to man up and explain what he meant by these outrageous comments."

 The campaign then dredges up comments Quist has made in the past based on newspaper articles. That includes a statement that he believes "the husband should be the head of the household" from a 1994 Star Tribune article. The press release also cites a St. Paul Pioneer Press article from 1993 that says Quist did an undercover investigation of an X-rated bookstore. To see the full press release, go here.

Quist's wife and campaign manager Julie Quist said all the Parry campaign has been doing in recent weeks is launching negative attacks.

"It would be really good for him to put something out that was a little positive about what he intends to do and what his issues are," she said.

Parry and Quist are set to square-off in the Aug. 14 primary. The winner will take on DFL 1st District Rep. Tim Walz. Wonder if these latest attacks will come up in Friday's debate between Parry and Quist on TPT's Almanac show?

Quist touts Valeriano during fundraiser

Republican House candidate Melissa Valeriano joined other supporters of 1st District GOP candidate Allen Quist at a fundraiser in Rochester last Friday featuring 6th District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. At one point during the event, Quist made a point of introducing Valeriano, who is running against Rochester DFL Rep. Kim Norton for the House District 25B seat.

"Getting to know Melissa has been a joy. We are philosophically on the same page, and what I see is total commitment, incredible talent and total dedication to turning things around in our state and our country," Quist said.

Valeriano said she "absolutely" shares Quist's philosophical beliefs and is determined to beat Norton.

"We decided (Norton) has worked hard enough for the northwestern part of the city, and she should have a rest come November," she said.

Quist is running against fellow Republican Mike Parry in the Aug. 14 primary. The winner will take on DFL Rep. Tim Walz in November. On the campaign trail, Quist has emphasized the need to cut government spending and solve the federal budget deficit within 5 years.

Fundraising, light rail & Bachmann: A CD1 primary race update

The political wrangling between 1st Congressional District GOP candidates Mike Parry and Allen Quist continues heading into the Aug. 14 primary. The two are battling for the chance to take on 1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz in November. Here's a quick recap of the events of this week so far.

Parry, who is trailing in the campaign money race, sent out a fundraising letter yesterday to supporters asking for donations and citing Quist's willingness to put $1 million of his own money into his campaign.

"My opponent has not won an election since 1986 — his views are out of the mainstream and voters have tried, tested and rejected him the last five times he's run for office. But he won't be stopped as long as he's willing to write himself a check for up to $1 million," the letter states.

This letter comes out as Quist gears up for a fundraiser featuring former presidential candidate and 6th District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in Rochester on Friday. The former state representative from St. Peter has also started airing TV ads across the 1st District — including in Minnesota. The ad features his granddaughter Lucia climbing red steps that turn into a graph of the nation's soaring deficit. In the ad, Quist says "Let's balance the budget and leave a better world for our kids."

Meanwhile, the Parry campaign is continuing its attacks on Quist's record. The latest attacks center on Quist's views on light rail. At his Rochester town hall last week, Quist said his view on light rail has always been that he supports building it as long as no government subsidies are used. Parry's campaign says that's not true. They sent out what they called a "fact check" saying that Quist has "backed light rail boondoggles for years." As evidence, they cite debates from 1998 when Quist said he supports light rail.

Last but not least, Parry will be getting plenty of media coverage on Friday. The state senator from Waseca wants answers from state officials about the decision to change the names of two constitutional amendment ballot items. Parry has called a meeting of the Senate Government Innovation and Veterans Committee, which he chairs. Testifying before the committee will be Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and State Attorney General Lori Swanson. Ritchie recently announced he was changing the titles of an amendment to ban gay marriage and one to require voters to show photo identification. Conservatives who support those amendment have blasted the secretary for making the change, arguing it is up to the Legislature to determine the ballot question titles.