Politics

The first political organization to hold a national convention, the Anti-Masonic Party, convened in Baltimore in September of 1831 to nominate William Wirt as its official candidate. On May 21-23 of the following year, the Democrats of the nation held their own convention in the same city. By 1840, the Democratic and Whig Parties had adopted the national convention as the standard mechanism of nomination. Since then, the most important parties have utilized this standard. MORE »

In a letter sent to supporters on Saturday, Pastor Mac Hammond of Living Word Christian Center wrote that “enemies of the gospel, often politically motivated,” are behind an ongoing Internal Revenue Service probe of the church. Hammond and Living Word are the target of an IRS audit investigating allegations of excessive compensation as well as of favorable loans and leasing arrangements that Hammond secured through the church. MORE »

In 2004, John Kerry won central Minnesota’s closely divided Pine County by fewer than a hundred votes. This time around, Barack Obama has his work cut out if he hopes to do as well.

John Jansen is not impressed with either of the major presidential candidates. “It’s a real hard choice,” says Jansen a 63-year-old retired electrician who lives in Pine City. “You’ve got the dumbkopf military clown, McCain. He’s too old.”

That sentiment, coupled with a belief that the No. 1 issue facing the country is providing every American with health insurance, would make Jansen seem like an ideal Barack Obama voter. But he’s actually ruled out voting for the Illinois senator. “Obama is real hard for an individual to vote for,” he says. “Why? Experience and race. I don’t want to sugarcoat it.” MORE »

Several bricks and some paint were tossed through windows of the Barack Obama for President Campaign headquarters in St. Paul, MN. It was early on Sunday morning and one volunteer was in the basement of the building and was not injured. We talk with Obama Minnesota campaign spokesperson Nick Kimball about security concerns with the campaign. MORE »