| 10:00AM
MN-GOV candidates have been speaking. Paul Thissen, Margaret Anderson-Kelliher, John Marty and Tom Rukavina addressed the delegates.
Jim Klobuchar and Franni Franken kicked off the convention. They are subbing for Amy and Al who are in Rochester attending the funeral of the local soldier who died in Afghanistan.
11:00AM
Still electing party unit officers.
Noon
We're eating lunch. 45 minute break. That'll delay things ... won't it?
I've been talking to some people and the feeling I hear is that delegates are keeping their positions to themselves and not telling the campaigns.
This could be an interesting afternoon.
12:15
It's beginning. We're about to get the nominations. Then Q&A then voting.
Speeches
Dan Powers gave a great speech and his was far better than Shelley's.
#cd2: Teresa Daly speaking for Shelley Madore. Shelley 1st to win in her district. She can go the distance. We need a leader in DC.
#cd2: Shelley Madore addresses dels. Kline has starved our communities ability to grow our businesses.
Shelley Madore: Kline has refused to ask for earmarks. MN02 gets $0.35 back for every dollar in taxes we pay. It's Kline's fault.
coleen rowley introducing Dan Powers. Dan is a builder. We all drove here on Powers Blvd. He will run grassroots campaign.
Dan Powers addressing dels. My team and I have made 10K calls. 16 meet-n-greets. Facebook, twitter to reach out to dels.Same w/ voters.
will we have same opportunities? Kline doesn't understand what we face. A bridge is not a pawn in political game.
dan powers. 3 legs of campaign. 1 = strong candidate, 2 = strong staff, 3 = plan. we will reach the voters and send Kline packing.
Q & A
- #1 issue? Madore= new job growth, bizs leave, no investmnt. Powers= Jobs. Energy independence is key. Build wind turbines here.
- Stay in contact w/ voters? Powers=FB, twitter, web, snail mail. Listen via townhall mtgs.Madore=every way, every how. just like @ leg.
- Defend Aghan war? Madore=supports Obama surge. time to fix prob we caused.Dan=messing arnd in mideast for 70 yrs. stop defending oil. support surge now but begin reviewing policy.
- Gay marriage? Dan=supported by Stonewall. Y. Madore=y, supported in house.
- NCLB?: Madore=unfunded mandate. $13M in my district for testing. + not making better students. not supportive, need to change. Dan=draconian penalties for schools is wrong. unfunded mandates always prob. DC must fund mandates. include schools/teachers in.
- grace under fire? Dan= stay on msg, not gonna let them bully me, Madore=I've lost once. fight the fight. stay on msg. she has no clue.
- Last question: last Q, transit? Madore= more trains, lite rail, mo buses, everywhere. Dan= need hi-spd rail, move on transit cuz brings jobs to area.
First ballot!
149.5
90 needed for endorsement
Dan Powers got 86!
Shelley Madore got 63.
Powers only needs 4 for endorsement.
Second Balloot
Word is that Dan got 99 on 2nd ballot.
Shelley took the stage and conceded. Dan is officially the candidate to face John Kline.
Trying to set up an interview with Dan. |
Today is the 2nd district (MN-02) DFL convention. Dan Powers and Shelley Madore are vying to be the candidate to take on 4-term Republican John Kline. Powers is a small businessman intent on unseating Kline and Madore is a 1-term state legislator.
