Minnesota

"We doubled [Romney] up here and in Minnesota," Rick Santorum enthusiastically told his Missouri crowd this evening. Santorum directed his fire at Barack Obama, saying that he does not listen to the American people, and indicating that Romney's positions too closely mirror Obama's own positions.  

"Ladies and gentlemen, I don't stand here to claim to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney," Santorum said. "I stand here to be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama."

Today's primary contests include Missouri's "beauty contest" primary, the Minnesota caucuses, and the Colorado caucuses. Polling firm PPP says all three contests look good for Rick Santorum.

To the Republicans of the states of Missouri, Minnesota, and Colorado:

This is your moment to vote on a subject that speaks its own importance—who will be the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, the man (if I may quote myself!) “who will save us from the ghastly prospect of an Obama second term, and who will then have the task of beginning to put right our listing ship of state, setting our nation on a course to restored solvency, reinvigorated liberty, and renewed greatness.”

I wonder if three features of the race as it stands today aren't being a bit neglected:

Mitt Romney announced today that former Minnesota senator Norm Coleman will be a "special adviser" to his campaign, focusing primarily on foreign policy. "[Coleman's] advice will be critical as I lay out my vision for improving our economy at home and strengthening our partnerships around the world," Romney said in a statement.

Gallup finds that a generic Republican is beating President Obama by eight points.

Paging Gov. Scott Walker: Public sector workers are breaking municipal budgets, too.

Score this one as an error: Judge declares Roger Clemens case a mistrial.

No, Rupert Murdoch does not pay negative income taxes: "Oh David Cay Johnston, You’ve Done It Again! Reuters Nixes Serial Misreporter’s Debut Column"

CNN reports:

Minnesota, like a lot of states, is facing a major budget shortfall. In order to close the state's $6.2 billion gap, the Wall Street Journal reports that the state's new Democratic governor is considering jacking up the state's taxes on high income earners to unprecedented levels:

Minnesota may be heading toward another drawn-out recount battle, this time with the race to succeed two-term governor Tim Pawlenty. Politics Daily reports:

Eighteen-term Democratic congressman Jim Oberstar usually wins his "Iron Range"-based Minnesota House seat with more than 65% of the vote, but a new SurveyUSA poll shows him leading Republican Chip Cravaack--a former Navy pilot and Northwest Airlines pilot--by just 1 point.