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Capitol View®
Mike Mulcahy

Daily Digest: Trump rallies Minnesotans

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Good morning, and happy Friday. Here's the Digest.

1. Trump tries to fire up Republicans in Rochester. President Donald Trump accused Democrats of "rage-fueled resistance" in the battle over his Supreme Court nominee, seeking Thursday to use the blistering nomination process to motivate Republican voters in Minnesota. Speaking at a packed civic center in Rochester, Trump praised Judge Brett Kavanaugh, whose nomination has faltered amid accusations of sexual misconduct. Of Democrats, he said, "Their rage-fueled resistance is starting to backfire at a level nobody has ever seen before." Added Trump: "Do we love it? We love it. Because people see what's happening and they don't like it." As Republicans face a tough midterm election cycle, Trump is trying to boost turnout. The GOP is hoping to fend off a Democratic effort to recapture the House of Representatives. Trump landed in Minneapolis in the afternoon and headed to a fundraiser before traveling to Rochester, friendly territory in the traditionally liberal state, where Republicans are targeting two Democratic districts but playing defense in two GOP-held districts in the Minneapolis suburbs. Stressing the stakes, Trump said, "On Nov 6, I need your vote, I need your support to stop radical Democrats and elect proud Minnesota republicans." (AP)

2. Before the rally supporters and opponents of the president lined the streets. Harlan Kruger drove with his wife and two children from near Albert Lea to hear Trump. "I would like to hear him talk about border control, I'd like to hear him put an end to the Kavanaugh issues, our veterans and I'm just excited to hear him proclaim his love for our country that he shows every day," Kruger said. Among the president's supporters who arrived hours before the rally was Brandon Hawn, the vice chair of College Republicans at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. "I've been a die-hard Trump supporter ever since he became the presumptive nominee back in the primaries and when he passed some tax cuts, he got Neil Gorsuch on the [Supreme] Court, my enthusiasm and support for Trump has been growing every day." Hawn said when he found out the president would be within an hour's drive of his school, he dropped everything to come. And there were visible demonstrations from people protesting the president's visit on a week where he's caught public scorn for mocking Christine Blasey Ford, the woman accusing his Supreme Court nominee of sexual assault. Joanne Kane from Rochester participated in a protest march, holding a sign that read: "Vote the bully out of the White House." "There are certainly a lot of women that are fearful of coming forward with their stories right now because they're afraid of being mocked or laughed at, I think there are a lot of people who are afraid of their families being separated, I think there's a lot of people feeling like what's going to happen in the future?," Kane said. "It just feels like we have a pretty chaotic White House and a pretty chaotic Senate right now." (MPR News)

3. A closer look at some of the things the president said in Rochester.  President Trump praised his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, blasted Democrats and ticked off what he sees the many accomplishments of his administration during his rally in Rochester Thursday night.  It was his latest stop on a tour to help Republicans maintain control of Congress this fall, pulling candidates like 1st District Republican Jim Hagedorn and Senate candidate Karin Housley on to the stage.  But the first-term president, who likes his superlatives (biggest, most, best), often paints with a broad brush and he doesn’t always hit the canvas. Here’s a look at some of the things he said in Rochester and how they stand up to the facts.  (MPR News)

4. White House down on Paulsen's chances. The White House has a message for vulnerable House Republicans tiptoeing around President Donald Trump: Get on board or start packing. The warning comes in a memo from White House political director Bill Stepien, who argues that GOP candidates who try to distance themselves from the president are only doing themselves harm in the upcoming midterm elections. “With Americans supporting the direction of the country at historically high levels — but with Republican voters clearly lagging in enthusiasm — the path forward is clear; Republican candidates need to closely, clearly and boldly align themselves with the policies that have provided Americans with this historic level of directional optimism,” Stepien wrote. The White House memo suggests that countering the enthusiasm gap is where Trump can make up the difference — for those candidates willing to take his help. Republicans who don’t talk about Trump or his accomplishments, the White House warns, will make a tough situation a whole lot tougher. White House officials contrasted Trump’s support for Minnesota Republicans Jim Hagedorn  and Rep. Jason Lewis, with his attitude toward Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen who has kept his distance from Trump. The White House believes Paulsen’s rejection of Trump will sink his candidacy. (AP)

5. Some Democrats keep their distance amid Ellison domestic abuse allegation. Dean Phillips, a businessman challenging Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen, said he has not yet decided whether he will vote for Keith Ellison, though he noted that he “wholeheartedly” disagrees with Republican attorney general candidate Doug Wardlow’s values. “If the allegations are true in the case of Mr. Ellison, they are disqualifying,” Phillips said. Although attorney general candidates often run as a joint ticket with candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, Tim Walz said he had no plans as of yet to campaign with Ellison. “We’ll wait and see what comes out of this,” Walz said. He clarified that the DFL inquiry would not be enough for him; he wants to see the results of the potential House Ethics Committee investigation.  At the same time, Walz praised Ellison as an “adept legislator” and emphasized that the Kavanaugh case was different.  Unlike the Supreme Court nominee, he concluded, “the people of Minnesota will get to have a say and they will get to vote.” (HuffPost)