Rochester, MN
A new raft of campaign signs are hung in the Mayo Civic Center as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party Minnesota is about to kick off its convention in Rochester. Orange and white water bottles provided by several prominent unions (oddly resembling a sea of alert prairie dogs) line the long tables where DFL delegates will soon meet face to face with fellow representatives from their districts. This arrangement provides a distinctively different feel from the centrally-focused, theater-style seating of the Minnesota GOP state convention, held in the same venue just one week ago.
The convention highlight will be the battle for the DFL endorsement between comedian Al Franken and University of St. Thomas professor Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. Balloting will begin tomorrow at high noon, and rumors suggest that, despite his large fundraising lead, Franken may face a tougher battle than expected.
Today’s schedule of events features opening remarks from DNC Chairman Howard Dean and the election of Minnesota’s presidential electors to the National Convention in Denver. Given the hubbub of last weekend’s convention between die-hard Ron Paul supporters and party loyalists over delegate election, will there be any residual tensions between Senator Hillary Clinton supporters and the establishment? Clinton has not officially released her delegates to Senator Barack Obama, as of Tuesday night the official presumptive Democratic nominee for the presidency.
1 response so far ↓
1 Joe // Jun 7, 2008 at 8:19 am
The MN Gop is bleeding to death. Not only did they iron fist the convention rules, they attempted to change the Party Constitution so that the central powers could remove a BPOU chair if he didn’t follow their line. Some people say they wanted to remove 2 BPOU chairs that wrote a letter to the State GOP saying they couldn’t support Norm Coleman.
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