Almanac: At the Capitol

Minnesota is standing out in the huge arena for its diversity and youth.  The national media has taken note.  David Gilbert-Pederson is the youngest delegate at 17.  He has been a media darling conducting a bevy of international interviews from MSNBC to World Wrestling Entertainment (who he said was the most fun and surprisingly informed).

The delegates tell me they have the largest percentage of Indian Americans with six.  There are 25 African Americans and seven Latinos.
Many told me what surprise they've been greeted with other state's delegates who still see Minnesota as rather old and white.

3rd District Congressional candidate Ashwin Madia didn't get to the podium, but he got on stage here at the DNC in Denver.  We talked to him outside afterwards where a girl grabbed his autograph after our interview.  Madia said the exposure has value even though not too many people are probably watching in the afternoon. 

Madia was one of a half a dozen candidates featured by Congressman Chris Van Hollen Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  I talked with him backstage afterwards and he said after campaigning with Madia in Minnesota,  voters in the district seem ready for change.  The race is part of the DCCC's "Red to Blue" program for promising candidates.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar addressed the convention for the second time in two days.  This must be getting old hat.  Today she recalled her family's frugal roots on the Iron Range.