Devastating Upshot to Government Shutdown in Minnesota: Cancelled Camping Trips

Yes, things are getting pretty grim in Minnesota, as the state enters Day 3 of its government shutdown. Bad enough that state camping grounds are closed. Soon we'll be hearing reports of citizens resorting to backyard barbeques, frisbee catches or even taking in a Twins game to pass the time this holiday weekend.

What a nightmare!

(Reuters) - Tara and Jose Garcia wanted to spend the holiday weekend camping with their four children.

But a Minnesota government shutdown prevented them from pitching a tent at a state park. So they checked out county campgrounds, only to find those parks overflowing with people.

"It's bulls--t," said Tara Garcia of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. "I am just feeling, 'Are you kidding? C'mon!'"

So the Garcias parked their minivan at Ft. Snelling, a state historical site nestled on the edge of the Mississippi River, just outside Minneapolis. That too was closed. They wandered the desolate paths anyway, with nerf guns in hand and a gaggle of kids, all under age 8.

After Democratic Governor Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders failed to reach agreement on a $5 billion budget deficit Thursday, state offices, parks, highway rest areas and a state zoo were shuttered. In addition, 22,000 government workers were hit with layoff notices.

When negotiations broke down, the two sides were about $1.4 billion apart with Democrats insisting on a tax increase for the rich and Republicans strongly opposed. The partisan impasse angered many people.

"You have a job to do, figure out how to do your job," said Laura Sandquist, 27, of Bloomington, Minnesota, who was at Ft. Snelling with her husband. The pair were not there to visit, but to unload their bikes and go for a ride along the river.

Jeff Sandquist, also 27, did not think the shutdown would actually happen. "It's mean," he said. "I'm sure they are both to blame."

Coleman To Be Certified Winner Over Failed Comedian

Of course, the angry, failed comedian and failed radio host will get a recount, so there's still time to steal the election.

DFLer Al Franken asked Monday to have rejected absentee ballots be considered in the U.S. Senate election results that are to be certified today by a state board, a move later blunted by an attorney general's opinion that the issue should be left to the courts.

The eleventh-hour maneuvering occurred as the five-member state Canvassing Board prepared to meet at 1 p.m. today in St. Paul to review results showing Republican Sen. Norm Coleman with a lead of 215 votes out of more than 2.9 million cast.

That margin includes the canvassed results submitted by Minnesota's 87 counties, plus an additional nine votes in Coleman's favor that emerged from a post-election audit conducted in a sampling of about 200 precincts to check the accuracy of voting machines.

The difference is well within the one-half percentage point required to trigger an automatic hand recount, which Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said he was "absolutely" certain will begin Wednesday morning despite the last-minute challenge.

More from Power Line.

McCain Hits 50% in Rasmussen, Now Tied in Minnesota

John McCain has now held a steady three-point edge over Barack Obama for three straight days and now has hit the 50% mark for the first time in months, but the big shocker is he's now tied with Obama in Minnesota, a state where he had trailed by 13 points.

Minnesota has become a battleground in a presidential campaign that has dramatically tightened nationwide.

A new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll shows that the race is now a dead heat between Barack Obama and John McCain, each supported by 45 percent of likely voters in the state.

The new poll likely will stoke both sides' efforts during the final 51 days until the election, triggering a barrage of advertising, grass-roots politicking and, potentially, stepped-up visits by the candidates.

The poll found that McCain has made gains across the board since a May Minnesota Poll that showed him trailing by 13 points. He has picked up considerable support among men and to a lesser degree among women. He also has boosted his standing with whites, young voters and all levels of household income and education.

In another significant development, more people now think McCain will win in November, which has to be a blow to the Democrats, who though this election was a foregone conclusion.

With Minnesota now a toss-up and a battleground state, it has to be a clear psychological blow to an Obama campaign that may now have to use resources in a state they must have envisioned as a clear slam dunk.

Remarkably, 40% Actually Consider Voting for Him

Looks like former amateur comedian and failed radio host Al Franken faces an uphill battle in his absurd quest to become a United States Senator. Granted, considering some of the lowlifes that occupy the Senate, having him as a member might be an improvement.

A new KSTP-TV/Survey USA poll shows Republican Sen. Norm Coleman with a double-digit lead over DFL Senate candidate Al Franken.

Pollsters surveyed 700 Minnesotans last week. They found in a race between Coleman and Franken, Coleman would win 52 percent to 40 percent.

Coleman's campaign says the poll results show Minnesotans are connecting with the Coleman campaign, but that it's anticipating a very close race.

Franken's campaign too is predicting a close race, saying it's seen all sorts of polls saying all sorts of things.

The poll also asked what would happen if former Independence Party Gov. Jesse Ventura entered the Senate race.

It found Coleman would still win with 41 percent, Franken would come in second with 31 percent and Ventura would get 23 percent.

A Rasmussen Reports poll also taken last week showed Coleman and Franken in a statistical dead heat.

It's hard to believe Minnesotans would even contemplate putting Ventura in office again. Even harder to consider a clown like Franken, what with all his recent baggage.

I can imagine the media in Minnesota will encourage Ventura getting in the race in the hope he can fracture the vote enough for Franken to slip in. The DFL should seriously reconsider whether they want such a boob representing them.

Is Franken really the best they can offer?