Political Gymnastics

Senator Norm Coleman, in possession of a narrow electoral lead the day after Election Day, November 6, 2008:
“I would step back (from challenging election results). I just think the need for the healing process is so important.”
Former Senator Norm Coleman’s attorney, facing a narrow deficit after a recount, January 5, 2008: [...]

Ask Not, You Know, What, You Know, Your Country Can, You Know, Do For, You Know, You…

Verbal crutches. We all use them. Many of us are susceptible to overuse of “ums.” Young people famously favor “likes.” Even great orators such as Barack Obama sprinkle their interview responses liberally with “ahs.” Obama is also among those prone to the use of “look,” to start answers, which can sometimes make [...]

The Importance of The Right Messenger

Most of the public relations around the U.S. Senate recount has come in the form of dueling flack attacks. The Franken campaign has been at least as over-the-top as the Coleman campaign, including its gratuitous mention in today’s recount briefing of the Kazeminy-Coleman FBI investigation. (Holy kitchen sink strategy, what does Kazeminy have [...]

Grade School Gotcha

Psst, Governor Palin, about that job Senator McCain talked you into pursuin’. Yes, you get $75,000 per month for playin’ dress up. Yes, you get to avoid the America hatin,’ terrorist lovin’ blue states.
But you may have been misled by the McCain HR Director. Because if you win, you really [...]

He Shoots, He…?

- Loveland

The Powerless Puppeteer

I had to wait until Governor Jesse Ventura’s sidekick Dean Barkley formally filed his papers to run for the Senate before I could post this, lest I be the one accused of prompting Jesse to enter Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race. I wouldn’t want that on my conscience.
Well, it now [...]

Franken Questioning the Question

The embattled Franken for U.S. Senate campaign is fielding questions today about survey findings showing that Mr. Franken’s tax problems make most Minnesotans less likely to support him (59%). Half (51%) say he should withdraw from the race. Tough stuff.

In a Strib online story, the Franken campaign officials said [...]

Premature E-Accusation?

We knew taxes would be an issue in the Minnesota U.S. Senate campaign. But some of us hoped to be reading stories about the tax evasion of the wealthiest 1% of Americans who were handed Bush-Coleman tax cuts, not tax evasion of the Democratic candidate.

Yes, “evasion” is too strong of [...]

Normy the Beer Man?

In the marketing world, it’s called extending the campaign. You take a message delivered at a 50,000 foot level, usually via broadcast ads, and then employ PR tactics that bring that message down-to-earth, where the target audience can touch, feel and experience it.
Or even get a buzz off of it.
Steve Novick, a candidate [...]

Just Words, Part II

The F word versus the W word.
That might sum up the Coleman-Franken race, if that is the Minnesota U.S. Senate race that ultimately materializes.
Senator Coleman is already gleefully spotlighting Al Franken’s raunchy rhetoric to prove that the professional comedian and talk radio jock is insufficiently Minnesotan and “Senatorial.”
Of course, Coleman has words [...]