And so it begins...

Posted at 11:01 AM on April 24, 2010 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Delegates at the DFL State Party Convention are in the process of backing a candidate for governor. Eight candidates are vying for the endorsement. Throughout the morning, the campaigns held five minute rallies on the floor to boost support for the campaign.

Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher had the biggest presence. She danced on the floor with several hundred supporters to the song "Love Train." She later said she's stressing her Minneapolis residency and her farm background to uncommitted delegates.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak's campaign started talking to delegates at 8:30 a.m. just before delegates convened. Rybak told his supporters that he was going to win the endorsement and urged them to rally around the endorsed candidate after the convention. Rybak, wearing a teal necktie, urged supporters in teal t-shirts to come together.

"Team teal," they shouted. During his speech to delegates, Rybak encouraged Democrats to rally behind his campaign. He also criticized Republican Gov.Tim Pawlenty and Republicans in the Legislature and Congress.

"We are the can do Democrats running against the party of just say no," Rybak said.

State Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, produced the biggest news of the morning when former gubernatorial candidate Tom Bakk placed Thissen's name into nomination. Bakk said Thissen is best equipped to handle the state's looming budget problem because of Thissen's health care expertise.

"If we can't get our hands around health care costs there isn't going to be money to do anything else because it's going to consume all the new money in the budget," Bakk said.

Thissen said he was honored by the endorsement. That could be a blow to State Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, who represents the Iron Range along with Bakk.

Rukavina said he's working to convince uncommitted delegates.

"I hope to give the speech of my life because there are a lot of uncommitted delegates on this floor."

State Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, has been working the crowd encouraging them to support him because he backs single payer, government run, universal health care. Former Minnesota House Minority Leader Matt Entenza also put his name into nomination even though he's running in the August primary.

Former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton's name was initially put his name into nomination but he later asked to not be considered for endorsement.

Former state Rep. Matt Entenza withdrew from the
endorsement contest during his address to the convention. Entenza plans to run in the Aug. 10 primary.

Comments (1)

There are some unconventional politics as well:

Statements by Kelliher and Rybak on homeless issues.

http://bit.ly/b4bdbR

Posted by Tore Simonsen | April 24, 2010 4:03 PM

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