Almanac: At the Capitol

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.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar addressed the convention from the big podium.  She talked about how her trust and respect for Obama goes back to when they were freshmen together.

We got to stand backstage just feet behind the podium during Klobuchar's speech. 

 

Then we talked to her one on one.  I asked the senator how different this felt versus her address to the convention 4 years ago when she was running for office.  She said it was a different world to talk about her colleagues Obama and Biden.  Speaking of Biden, Klobuchar talked to him on the phone about a visit to Minnesota.  Klobuchar concluded by expressing her pride about apparently being the only Minnesotan to speak before the convention.

 

Vice President Walter Mondale told a breakfast crowd in Denver about the momumental moment ahead of them as they endorse a candidate of color.  He recalled when rooms like these were full of white faces.

The crowd of DFL activists seemed to be most excited about Senate candidate Al Franken.  He noted that one poll has him close and he needs people to run with him to the finish line.

 

Sen.  Amy Klobuchar expressed a lot of excitement about the Biden pick.

 

Some of the youngest delegates also hail from the Northstar State including 17 year old David Gilbert Pederson. Northwest Airlines CEO Doug Steenland was also there.  And Howard Dean made a surprise stop.

 

The image is just about what you'd expect:  guy in a cowboy hat, lots of signs saying welcome, multitudes of media and lots of sunshine.  Denver is busy and exciting.  Delegates, media a politicians are everywhere.  David Gillette's essay on it all is hilarious, check it out!  We've seen plenty of Minnesotans too.  DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez is pictured below riding on the airport tram with delegate Ralph Remington.

Sen. Mark Dayton was also on our plane and eager to invite everyone to his luncheon.  I chatted with Buck Humphrey in the airport.  Vice President Mondale was on my crew's flight out and he will be part of the Minnesota breakfast at the delegation hotel this morning.  Sen. Amy Klobuchar is on the list of podium speakers this afternoon.  So look for more coverage of our Minnesotans in Denver later today!

 

Gov. Tim Pawlenty went global today officially announcing Minnesota is joining the ONE campaign  to end worldwide poverty and disease.  Pawlenty said his administration was in the planning stages of a possible trade mission to Africa.  The governor noted that Sens. Obama and McCain have been engaged in the ONE campaign.  Pawlenty, however was not willing to engage on any of the vice presidential talk.  He did confirm that he will travel to Ohio and Pennsylvania this weekend.  He doesn't know yet if he'll be going to Denver on behalf of McCain.

 

For about the past month Pawlenty has been his old self again with the press corps (and kids who he never fails to impress):  Laid back, sarcastic, calm.  I've been writing and saying for about a month now that it seems like Pawlenty knows if he'll be #2--not sure if he's it or not.   Ever since he visited McCain campaign headquarters and said he'll no longer speculate on VP talk he has seemed to mellow out.  Today, while he would not take VP questions, he gave us a lot of helpful quotes about the upcoming RNC.  He said he's been in many meetings the past week particularly on security and the "level of preparedness is good...we're ready." He also spoke at length about how the convention will boost Minnesota's future tourism and convention business.  Pawlenty is scheduled to address the convention on Thursday.  To many that means he won't be addressing the convention as a VP candidate.

 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar was also at the press conference in support of the ONE campaign.  Afterwards, I talked to her about her plans to address the DNC not just once but twice.  She said her first talk on Monday will focus on "ethics reforms" and Tuesday with other women her message will be "protecting the family checkbook."

 

 

 

The question I kept hearing all night at the Obama rally was "Where's Al Franken?" His rival for the DFL U.S. Senate endorsement Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer was there. Sen. Amy Klobuchar appeared and got big cheers. Congressman Keith Ellison also made the crowd roar. Many said they were waiting to see Franken appear, to shore up support, to rally the troops with 30,000 people in and around the X.
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Supporters are starting to stream into the arena and fill the floor in front of the podium. Obama's people tell me he won't take the stage before 9pm. An Eden Prairie mom, teacher and former Republican JoAnn Syverson will introduce Obama. She will be the only speaker besides Obama. Her son is an Iraqi war veteran. Michelle Obama will appear with her husbad and then take a seat. Meanwhile local officials are working the press. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is doing interviews. House Majority Leader Tony Sertich will be doing the same later.
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I just got back from Ely for the Will Steger-Gov. Pawlenty climate change conference in Ely. They are an odd couple, but could prove to be a highly effective pairing. They are both media masters and come from very different approaches to reach the same conclusion: there is global warming and we need to act fast.
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