Veteran GOP activist Bonn Clayton knowingly disseminated false information about the state Republican Party's stance on judicial elections in 2012, a three judge panel has ruled. Clayton was issued a $1,200 fine for violating state campaign finance laws.

Downey announced his plan in an email blast to activists on Thursday morning, calling for a "redesign" of the debt-plagued state GOP party. Current GOP Party Chairman Pat Shortridge has said he will step down from the position when his term ends in the spring.

The wounds had started to heal by the time Minnesota Republicans faced each other at an annual activist gathering in Blaine over the weekend. Many Republicans had already come to terms with the drubbing that took place on Nov. 6, when both Republican legislative majorities and two GOP-led constitutional amendments were rejected by voters.

When it comes to spending by Minnesota’s political parties, the state DFL has emerged as the No. 1 player in the 2012 battle for control of Legislature.

Clinton's visit follows poll numbers that show Mitt Romney gaining on President Barack Obama in Minnesota.

Last week veteran GOP activist Bonn Clayton sent out an email to all the delegates and alternates to this year's state Republican convention announcing the creation of a "voter's guide" for judicial contests. It directed GOP activists to a web site where it stated that challengers Tim Tingelstad, Dean Barkley and Dan Griffith were the party's "recommended" candidates for the Minnesota Supreme Court.

State GOP chair Pat Shortridge sent out an email to donors last week imploring them to contribute additional money to the cash-strapped party. In the memo Shortridge details plans for roughly $380,000 in campaign spending, but notes that the party only has financial commitments for $115,000.

One peculiarity of the Minnesota Supreme Court’s decision to remove Rep. Kerry Gauthier’s name from next month’s general election ballot was that Justice David Stras opted not to participate in the case.

DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin, teaming up with the House DFL caucus and Erik Simonson's campaign, said Friday that they are petitioning the Minnesota Supreme Court to challenge the St. Louis County Auditor's move to deny a withdrawal affidavit from Kerry Gauthier and a certificate of nomination for Simonson.

This month’s meager primary voter turnout has caused Gov. Mark Dayton and leaders from both parties to once again mull moving the primary to June. Just 9 percent of registered Minnesota voters turned out for the August 14 primary.