He is in his first term, and would be up for re-election in 2006.

This can only be a good thing. Anyone who read my post about Dayton approximately 4 hours ago (in reference to him endorsing St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly, who endorsed Bush in '04) can tell why. Dayton is very vulnerable, mostly because he has very little support with his base.

The special circumstances verdict makes him eligible for the death penalty or life in prison.
First degree murder is 25 years to life. Second degree is 15 years to life.

It's listed under breaking news on http://www.cnn.com/

You can hear crying on the audio from the court room...

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5065212.html

They interviewed 1069 Minnesota voters this morning (no exact times). They are from all over Minnesota, with about 1/3 in the metro area of Minneapolis/St. Paul, about 1/4 in the suburban areas, and the rest in Greater Minnesota.

20% said they were Dems, 33% said they were Reps and 25% were independents. But that only has 78% identifying themselves as anything...

More below the fold...

I voted Kerry for my aunt, who is called unnatural and immoral for her 10+ year relationship with her partner, and whose wedding I hope to someday celebrate.

I voted Kerry for my husband, who has been laid off, unemployed, and underemployed over the past two years, and who is now changing careers at 25 years old because the tech sector just isn't recovering.

More after the jump...

First, polling.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune's poll shows Kerry up 49-41 in Minnesota. Here's the link:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/784/5060798.html

However, the St. Paul Pioneer Press' poll (also released today) shows Bush up 48-47 in the state. Here is the link: http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/politics/10058538.htm

Now the Star Tribune has been accused in the past of always favoring the Democrat in their polling. As was noted in the last thread, they called the Mondale-Coleman US Senate race terribly in the final days of 2002.

My gut says it's closer than 8%, but more than 1%. I feel confident that Kerry will win Minnesota by at least 2-3%. Hopefully more!

More below the jump.

There is also a column by Sen. Tom Harkin about why Bush will restart the draft. Has anyone seen this in other college papers?
http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2004/10/28/10950

CNN just reported it, but said it was breaking and they didn't have much details. On the screen, CNN's report said Iraqi guardsmen, but in their verbal announcement they only said "11 guardsmen." I thought to myself that if I had a loved one in the National Guard over there, I would have been scared shitless upon hearing that.

It's not any better that it is Iraqis, but you all know what I'm saying.

In Wednesday's Minneapolis Star Tribune. Canvassers got bonuses for registering Bush voters, but got nothing - and it was implied they'd be fired - for Kerry voters.

Guess which firm it was? Sproul and Associates, the very same firm that is embroiled in the Nevada allegations, along with W. Virginia and Oregon.

Clinton looks skinnier, I think...

Granted, they're the more liberal editorial board of the two. But they are endorsements none the less!

So that's two for Patty Wetterling, who is challenging Mark Kennedy. The St. Paul Pioneer Press endorsed Rep. John Kline over Teresa Daly.

Hardball poll on who you'd vote for. Currently 58% Bush, 42% Kerry.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/editorial/9930865.htm

According to today's article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, "tens of thousands" of new voters have been added from predominantly Democratic cities (mainly Minneapolis & St. Paul, some suburbs). This is "nearly twice" the registrations gathered from predominantly Republican areas.

More below the fold...

They talked to three undecideds who were looking to last night's debate to make up their minds.

Two of the three decided, and they had decided Kerry. Some interesting comments from the three undecideds after the fold.

23 dead at the first blast... the others are just being reported.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6200950/

The article refers to the fact that Cheney was well-spoken and calm, whereas Bush was clearly off his game and relied on the repetition of 4 key phrases 456 times.

It also talks about Edwards putting Cheney on the defensive from the start. It quotes Edwards' "a long resume doesn't equal good judgement," and said the Dean comment was Cheney's best jab.

By the way, the poll here still has Edwards leading 65% to 35% on who won the debate. And more than 1 million votes have been cast.

It turned out to be a great experiment. And I'm so excited about the outcomes. More after the break...