Bloggers are locked and loaded for 2006

Congrats to fellow MOB members Gary Miller, of Kennedy vs. The Machine and Craig Westover, of craigwestover.blogspot.com for getting interviewed for an AP story via Channel 5 Eyewitness News on blogging the 2006 elections: "Minnesota bloggers prepare for '06 elections".

"I'm crazy enough to think we can make a small difference in this race," said Gary Miller of Kennedy v. the Machine, a pro-Republican blog devoted to the Senate race.

Blogger Craig Westover says the diarists can shower time and attention on the races, allowing them to scoop newspapers, television and radio.

Like reporters, bloggers get tips and access to events. "They're going to eat the newspapers' lunch," said Westover, of craigwestover.blogspot.com.

Dozens of political blogs in Minnesota represent wide-ranging points of view, but more are conservative than liberal.

And there's more:

The cream of the crop is Power Line, Time magazine's blog of the year in 2004 after the conservative blog publicized problems with a "60 Minutes" report about President Bush's military record. Contributor Scott W. Johnson says 120,000 people read Power Line regularly, with 60,000 to 80,000 checking it daily.

Another Minnesota blogger is Ed Morrissey, also known as Captain Ed of Captain's Quarters, who writes for publications including the Washington Post and the Weekly Standard. The Minnesota Democrats Exposed blog scored a scoop in September, beating other media with the news that developer Kelly Doran would switch his campaign from Senate to governor.

2006 is going to be a fun year for conservative bloggers!