Chris Fields Uses Birthday to Stump for Cash

Campaign staffers working for Chris Fields, the Republican running to unseat Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) in the November elections, decided to get their boss a fairly seasonal gift last week for Fields' Aug. 22 birthday.

"What do you get the man who has everything?" asked an announcement posted on Field's website last week.

Rather than gunning for a "new tie to replace that pink one we don’t like," Fields' staff opted for a fundraising drive, using the candidate's birthday to try to raise money for a new television commercial for the candidate.

There's been no word from the campaign whether their 48-hour drive was successful.

First Fields-Ellison Debate Scheduled?

Ellison and Fields are planning to square off in their first debate this Wednesday at the Minnesota State Fair.  

The event will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at the Minnesota Public Radio booth on the corner of Judson Avenue and Nelson Street, and will be moderated by MPR political editor Mike Mulcahy. Candidates will be answering a mix of questions from the audience and the moderator.

Want to research your questions? Check out our interivews with Ellison and Fields, where we put your questions to each candidate:

• Chris Fields, and
• Keith Ellison, and

Stay tuned for a Patch-sponsored Ellison-Fields debate, coming this fall.

A Measure of Confidence

In what the Star-Tribune is interpreting as a possible sign of confidence his chances of victory, Ellison is going to attend the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC next week. Many of his colleagues, though, are staying away in order to campaign.