Jun 7, 2008 3:55 pm US/Central
Pens, Hips And Nuptials Color Dem. Convention
ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) ―
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Last week's Republican state convention featured Gov. Tim Pawlenty waving his new favorite prop. (File)
CBS
Pen politics are in full swing in Minnesota.
Last week's Republican state convention featured Gov. Tim Pawlenty waving his new favorite prop: a bright-red pen that helped him rack up a veto record this session that he was eager to boast about.
Not to be outdone, U.S. Rep. Tim Walz pulled out a pen of his own as he addressed the DFL state convention Saturday in the same Mayo Civic Center hall. He brandished his "19-cent Paper Mate" that he claimed to have toted to hundreds of town meetings across his southern Minnesota congressional district.
"This is the pen I use to go to Washington," Walz said before citing a litany of party ideals he tries to turn into federal legislation. "This is the pen we use to write down what you want to see."
In his 34th year in Congress, Democrat Jim Oberstar is already the dean of the delegation and is the bane of state Republicans who have rarely made a dent in his sizable victory margins.
Oberstar, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, declared he's not going anywhere soon. He reflected Saturday about a recent hip replacement at Rochester's Mayo Clinic.
"It's kind of like America's transportation system -- congested," Oberstar said of his old hip. "So I had it fixed and I've got news for the Republicans: It's a 45-year hip!"
Oberstar, 74, is currently running for an 18th term representing northeastern Minnesota.
While Democratic convention speakers used piercing verbal blows to elected Republicans to elicit applause, there was a softer moment Saturday morning.
As DFL Party Chairman Brian Melendez opened convention business, he made sure to send anniversary greetings to his archrival, state Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey.
Carey watched the proceedings from above the convention floor in section 135, resting his chin on his closed fist as the potential rivals to Sen. Norm Coleman shared their views on the war, taxes and energy. It was his 27th wedding anniversary with wife, Sue.
Instead of having Sue by his side, Carey's convention companion was party spokesman Mark Drake.
"They spent their day together yesterday," Drake said. "She's fine with it."
About 200 Democrats took a break from their convention early Saturday afternoon to crowd into a meeting room at the Mayo Civic Center where they watched Hillary Clinton concede the Democratic presidential nomination to Barack Obama.
Several Clinton supporters wiped away tears as they watched the telecast of her speech on MSNBC. Many in the room applauded right along with her supporters in the audience at the speech in Washington, D.C.
The chairman of Obama's Minnesota campaign, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, stood along a wall and clapped numerous times during the speech.
Afterward, one of Clinton's strongest Minnesota backers said she would fulfill Clinton's request that her supporters work to elect Obama.
"I was very proud of her today," said Lynn Wilson, the chairwoman of the Olmsted County DFL. "She showed us the direction we need to go in to win this election."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Northstar Opens Despite Efforts To Block
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