Axelrod: Obama not taking MN for granted

by Catharine Richert, Minnesota Public Radio

ST. PAUL, Minn. — President Barack Obama's senior campaign adviser David Axelrod says he doesn't expect Minnesota to be a battleground state in 2012.

But, Axelrod says that the Obama campaign isn't taking Minnesota for granted. Axelrod was in Minnesota Wednesday raising money and meeting Obama volunteers and campaign staff.

Axelrod said he hoped DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar would campaign for Obama this year to the extent that she's available.

"Amy Klobuchar is a star, and a great ally of the president's," Axelrod said. "We have maximum high regard for her. She has her own race; I know it's going well. To the extent possible, we'd like her to be out there for us as well."

Axelrod declined to say whether the president will campaign in Minnesota this year.