Now it's a race - Bell gains in MN US Senate contest

Out of town for a 3-day weekend and look what happens (oh yeah, the Minnesota legislature is back in session too)

Minnesota Senate: Bell Gains Ground

Leap frogging past Rep. Mark Kennedy in the latest Rasmussen Report poll of the Minnesota US Senate race Ford Bell is in a statistical dead-heat with primary opponent Amy Klobuchar.

Both Bell and Klobuchar now enjoy a 3-point lead over Kennedy. Since Rasmussen started to publish polling results in January, Klobuchar has dropped 4 percentage points in a head-to-head match-up with the White House backed Kennedy. During that same time Bell has surged up a staggering 13 percentage points. The question over the next month will be whether both these trends will continue.

Of the 500 likely voters, 42 percent would vote for Kennedy over Klobuchar while only 40 percent would choose Kennedy over DFL candidate Bell.

All this should make Friday's two debates more interesting (yes debates, with rebuttals and everything). The first will be between Bell and Klobuchar on Minnesota Public Radio's "Midday" starting at 11 a.m. The second will hosted by the MetroNorth chamber of commerce. Here are the details from the group's website:

SENATORIAL DEBATE
Friday, March 3, 2006
The Mermaid
Mounds View, MN
Event Time: Noon
Attendance Fee: $18.00 (Prepaid Only)

Why is this debate being held?
This debate is being held among candidates for the US Senate seat to be vacated by Mark Dayton. Confirmed candidates are Congressman Mark Kennedy (R) and Democrats[sic] Amy Klobuchar and Ford Bell.

For More Information:
E-mail Deb or call 763-783-3553 to RSVP.

The ticket charge and work will probably keep me away from the luncheon, though curiosity begs two questions; do you think Bell and Klobuchar will car pool from the MPR studios to the Mermaid? - and - do you think Kennedy will be listening in on his Walkman while pressing the flesh at the Chamber?