DFL leaders endorse Dean, tout his knowledge of key issues

[pruner]

By Beth Hornby

Minnesota DFL leaders met at the State Capitol on Thursday to personally endorse former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean to be the Democratic candidate for the 2004 presidential race.

Dean supporters, including Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and state DFL leaders, gathered behind a podium with “The doctor is in” written across the front — a reference to Dean’s days as a practicing physician.

In order to get the full official DFL party endorsement, Dean must secure at least 71 percent of the vote in a party-wide straw poll March 2. Attendees at Thursday’s event hope their individual support can help make that happen.

State Sen. Mee Moua, DFL-St. Paul, said Dean’s inside knowledge of health care and higher education issues put him above other candidates.

<snip>

http://www.daily.umn.edu/articles/2003/10/03/6800

[w4rma]

1. Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

Effectively the state chapter of the US Democratic Party. Result of the 1944 merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party (f. 1919).
http://www.dfl.org/index.asp?Type=B_DIR&SEC={1D5731E6-5DC8-45E7-8B8B-DF623AFE7863}

[shockingelk]

2. I've never understood this

Are we "renegades"? Seems not ...

Pawlenty and Coleman? How'd that happen?

[Hawkeye-X]

3. As we approach the first anniversary of Wellstone's death

on October 24th. I think the Minnesota DFL did the most honorable thing to keep Wellstone's spirit alive by endorsing the perfect candidate for President - Howard Dean.

Dean espouses Wellstone's spirit very well - he fights for the little people, and is definetely from the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.

Hawkeye-X

[Habibi]

4. That

is way cool!

[Rose Siding]

5. Do they usually endorse this early?

What impact has their endorsements in the past had on the eventual choice?