A reader points out that several of Minnesota’s radio and television markets extend into the western edge of Wisconsin — so Jill Biden’s campaign stops in Minnesota this weekend may be part of an Obama campaign effort to shore up Wisconsin, rather than reflecting any internal concern about Minnesota.

This map of radio markets from Arbitron indicates that Duluth’s radio market extends into Douglas County, and Minneapolis–St. Paul’s radio market extends into St. Croix and Pierce Counties.

Jill Biden’s tentative schedule:

Minnesota may not be considered a swing state when it comes to the presidential race, but Duluth and Minneapolis will get a touch of national politics this weekend.

Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will make a campaign swing through Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, with a stop in Duluth on Saturday afternoon.

She will thank Obama campaign volunteers, said Kristin Sosanie, the state communications director for the Obama campaign.

“There a good organization up there,” Sosanie said.

The second lady is expected to arrive at the Duluth Labor Temple, 2002 London Road, at 2 p.m. Saturday to also encourage people to keep canvassing voters for the Nov. 6 election. She has a similar morning event in Minneapolis.

“We’re trying to make sure turnout is high,” Sosanie said.

Biden will begin her trip Friday in northern Iowa. She will go to a fundraiser in Minneapolis on Friday night and then a campaign office Saturday morning. Plans for Wisconsin stops Sunday and Monday are pending.

Whoohoo! Non-binding caucuses! Non-binding primaries! Can you smell the excitement?!

Today in Colorado!

Tuesday 7 February 2012: Precinct Caucuses meet in each precinct to choose delegates to the County Assemblies and District Conventions.

There is no formal system applied in the Precinct Caucus to relate the presidential preference of the participants to the choice of the precinct’s delegates to the Colorado County Assemblies and District Conventions; however, a non-binding Presidential Preference poll of the delegates will be conducted. (NOTE: It is the District Conventions and the State Convention that will actually pledge Republican National Convention delegates to presidential contenders).

Since no National Convention delegates are bound to Presidential contenders, the Precinct Caucuses do not violate the RNC’s Tuesday 6 March 2012 timing rule.

Today in Minnesota!

Tuesday 7 February 2012: Republican Party Precinct Caucuses meet to choose the precinct’s delegates to the BPOU [="Basic Political Organization Unit" (the next higher tier: County, State Senate District or State House District)] Convention. There will also be a non-binding straw poll re: Presidential Preference held in coordination with these Precinct Caucuses. (NOTE: It is the later Congressional District and State Conventions that will actually elect Republican National Convention delegates).

There is no formal system applied in the Precinct Caucuses to relate the presidential preference of the Caucus participants to the choice of the precinct’s delegates to the Republican Convention of the BPOU [which may be a County, State Senate District or State House District] in which the precinct is located. The participants at each Precinct Caucus alone determine if presidential preference is to be a factor in such choice and, if so, how it is to be applied.

Today in Missouri!

Missouri Republican non-binding Primary. Today’s primary has no effect on delegate allocation.

Also note that today’s Missouri ballot will feature Herman Cain, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Jon Huntsman, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul . . . but no Newt Gingrich.

This is going to make for a pulse-pounding, dramatic wrap-up piece tomorrow morning!

The good folks at the Republican National Committee send along word about what is really at stake in tomorrow’s caucuses . . . which is . . . not that much:

To:       Political Reporters

From:  Sean Spicer, RNC Communications Directors

Subj:   Reporting on Delegates for Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri

For those of you covering the race for the GOP presidential nomination and writing about the current delegate count, please keep in mind that no delegates will be awarded tomorrow.

Colorado is a non-binding precinct caucus. Their 36 delegates will be chosen at district conventions held between March 31 – April 13, 2012, and at the state convention on April 14, 2012.

Minnesota is a non-binding precinct caucus. Their 40 delegates will be chosen at district conventions held between April 14 – 21, 2012, and at a state convention on May 5, 2012. Delegates are not bound unless the state convention passes a resolution to bind the delegates.

Missouri will hold a primary tomorrow that is not recognized as being a part of any delegate allocation or selection process. A precinct caucus will be held on 3/17/2012 to begin the process of choosing their 52 delegates which will be chosen at district conventions on April 21, 2012, and a state convention on June 2, 2012. Candidates for delegate must state a presidential preference at the time of nomination and will be bound to support that candidate for one ballot at the national convention.

Right now, Mitt Romney has 73 delegates, Newt Gingrich has 29, Ron Paul has 8, and Rick Santorum has 3. Another 30 are currently unbound.

(Remember, Iowa awards its delegates based on the results of the state convention.)

One of the few states where I didn’t see a good, competitive, interesting House race on my list of 99 was Minnesota. The incumbents all look pretty solid, and most of the challengers are extraordinarily short on cash. (Example: Democratic Rep. Tim Walz’s cash-on-hand: about $595,000. GOP challenger Allen Quist’s: about $18,000.)

But perhaps something will shake out:

Six months before Election Day, Minnesota’s Republicans appear to be gaining strength.

A new poll shows that in this onetime Democratic stronghold, the parties are at near parity.

The SurveyUSA poll, commissioned by KSTP-TV, found that 36 percent of likely voters identify themselves as Republicans, while 35 percent say they’re Democrats. Twenty-four percent call themselves independents.

Given the poll’s 4.1 percent margin of sampling error, that’s a statistical tossup between Republicans and Democrats.

By means of comparison, a Star Tribune Minnesota Poll conducted a year ago found that 37 percent of Minnesotans called themselves independents, 36 percent said they were Democrats and 20 percent identified themselves as Republicans.

The poll found the biggest impact on the gubernatorial race:

The SurveyUSA poll also found that Republican gubernatorial endorsee Tom Emmer is ahead of his three DFL rivals, although the significance of the results is hard to gauge this early in the campaign. In matchup against Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Mark Dayton and Matt Entenza, Emmer was supported by 41 percent of likely voters. The DFLers were each backed by about one-third, while Independence Party candidate Tom Horner was supported by about 10 percent.

If Tim Pawlenty has any aspirations for the presidency, he probably doesn’t want a Democrat taking the reins after him. He can ask Mitt Romney what it’s like to have a Democratic successor manage your signature domestic policy proposal.