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Battleground Towns

Jim Gehrz, Star Tribune

Stephen Yohn, right, of Mahtomedi, listened intently to a point being made by Stephen Birkeland, of White Bear Lake, as he and others regulars discussed politics and the economy at the Coffee Cottage in Mahtomedi. Bruce Mestemacher, of Hudson, is at left.

Angst, fear, confusion stir the coffee talk in Mahtomedi

By CURT BROWN, Star Tribune

Last update: September 23, 2008

The edginess of the morning crowd was understandable, considering all the caffeine being dispensed Tuesday at the Coffee Cottage in Mahtomedi.

At one table, a nervous Tina Ziemer talked about yanking her 75-year-old mother's money out of the stock market. Wall Street's turmoil has convinced her that certificates of deposit would be a safer bet for the money her late father invested in more robust times.

Mark Mueller, a deputy fire chief in St. Paul, sat across the table from Ziemer, a fellow parishioner at nearby St. Jude's Catholic church. He is upset about the $700 billion financial industry bailout being pitched to Congress.

"I say: Let 'em sink," Mueller said. "Why should the American taxpayer be bailing out rich bankers?"

Cynthia Sobieski, a Mahtomedi election judge for nearly 30 years, is as perplexed as she is frightened.

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Battleground Towns is an occasional series that focuses on areas of the Twin Cities where the presidential race is expected to be hotly contested.

Part 3: New Trier agrees to disagree

St. Mary’s Church

St. Mary’s Church

In 2004, New Trier residents cast 33 votes for Kerry, 33 for Bush. But you won't find many signs of a great divide this year.

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Part 2: Meltdown on main

Main Street in Anoka.

Main Street in Anoka.

As the presidential candidates focus on the slumping economy, voters in the political battleground of Anoka live with today's realities. The city, divided by the river and politics, is one to watch.

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More from this series:

  • Video Finding the Anoka vote
    Anoka business owners, citizens, and mayor talk about important issues in the community and which candidate they think will take the majority of votes.
  • Part 1: Battleground Minnesota
    Throughout the metro area, supporters of candidates are preparing to fight for votes from now through November
  • Video Red and blue Edina
    Edina neighbors Danielle Arlow, DFL, and Susan Covnick, GOP, say that for them, this election is about critical issues.
  • Photo gallery: Battleground Towns
    Throughout the metro area, supporters of candidates are preparing to fight for votes from now through November.