Battlegrounders
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MINNESOTA: POLLS & SCHEDULES [Scott W. Johnson 10/19 11:10 AM]

In 2000, Minnesota was a powder blue state — Gore edged Bush in Minnesota by only 60,000 votes out of 2,450,000 cast, 47.9 to 45.5 percent. Ralph Nader essentially carried the balance; Minnesota was one of Ralph Nader's strongest states. Nader is on the ballot in Minnesota again this year.

Gary Gregg, NRO's official electoral-college dean, has tentatively moved Minnesota into Kerry's column and accordingly designated Minnesota a powder blue state. Gregg's designation appears reasonable; Kerry holds a 5-point lead in the last poll conducted by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, although Rasmussen has the race tied in the most recent public poll of Minnesota voters. We think that Minnesota remains a battleground state.

Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that John Edwards will be stumping this afternoon in traditional Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party territory in Hibbing, Minnesota, best-known as Bob Dylan's hometown. On Thursday Kerry himself will tout a "Fresh Start For America" while addressing a rally in the parking area adjacent to the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis. Reading the tea leaves, the Kerry campaign must lack confidence that Minnesota is poised to break its way on November 2.

What about the Bush campaign? It has scheduled President Bush to appear in Republican stronghold of Rochester tomorrow. The Bush campaign rightly senses that Minnesota presents a prime opportunity to turn a blue state red.