Rybak speech

Posted at 11:14 AM on April 24, 2010 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak gave the first speech of the day to DFL delegates. Rybak, a two term mayor, emphasized his background as mayor and said he has the executive leadership to lead the state. He also criticized Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty's leadership over the past eight years.

He called Republicans the party of "just say no," and said after 20 years without a DFL governor, it's time for voters this fall to "just say no" to Republicans.

Rybak said DFLers must convince voters this fall that they can trust the party to manage their tax dollars. He said he was best equipped to do so because he erased a budget deficit during his time as mayor of Minnesota's largest city. He also said he has a better financial record than any of the Republicans running for governor.

Rybak said Minnesotans pull together when the going gets tough. His widowed mother ran a drugstore in south Minneapolis, and the family faced challenges, but he said people reached out when they needed help, both friends and strangers. He said that same kind of pulling-together occurred after the bridge collapse in Minnesota.

We'll put audio of Rybak's speech once it becomes available. Rybak's campaign website has posted the speech's text.

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