Good news for Minnesotans! (ie the caucus last night)

[Vittorio]

Check out the email I got from the College Democrats of Minnesota:

From:
Subject: DRAFT DFL NEWS RELEASE - MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS RECORD HISTORICALLY HIGH CAUCUS TURNOUT - 030304
Date: 3Mar04 2:51pm

The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

Mike Erlandson, Chair Tarryl Clark, Associate Chair
255 East Plato Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55107
www.dfl.org
Phone: [phone] Toll Free: 800-999-7457 Fax: [phone]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS RECORD HISTORICALLY HIGH CAUCUS TURNOUT

Democrats, Independents uniting to defeat Bush in November

St. Paul - On Wednesday Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chairman Mike Erlandson declared Minnesota's "Super Tuesday" caucus turnout "historic" in size.

"This is a historic turnout for the DFL Party, a more than five fold increase in caucus participation from the last several years. We have not seen this level of participation since the Vietnam War era. The energy and the excitement generated by the desire to remove George W. Bush from office and get America back on the right track is unbelievable," declared an exuberant DFL Chairman Mike Erlandson. "Clearly, Minnesotans are united in their desire to defeat George W. Bush this year."

With 90% of precincts reporting, the total number of caucus attendees reached to 51,518.

The turnout in areas all across Minnesota rose far beyond the most optimistic expectations. Also included among DFL caucus goers were many independent, Green, and first-time voters. Democrats see the terrible record of President George W. Bush as the chief driver of the historic turnout.

Erlandson explained, "Because of record job losses not seen since the Depression and because of the fact that millions of Americans have lost their health care, Bush will lose this election. Bush will be defeated because he has turned budget surpluses into record deficits as far as the eye can see. Also, George Bush has shattered our credibility around the world. Super Tuesday was the beginning of the end of the reign of George II."

Erlandson also commended the campaigns of Senators John Kerry and John Edwards and Congressman Dennis Kucinich, noting, "The Kerry, Edwards and Kucinich campaigns ampaigns did a wonderful job and I commend them for an energetic, issue-based campaign."

As the party moves forward to the general election and looks to engage President Bush directly, united behind the candidacy of John Kerry, Erlandson added a reference to the November election, "Bring it on."

[Wickerman]

1. thanks for the heads up

and welcome to DU. It was such a treat to be in a room full of liberals, and right there in my town, too. We came up with some great resolutions and seemed, in our small group, to mirror the state and the nation on our Kerry, the Edwards, then Kucinich tally. Great experience - I am a county delegate and am looking forward to the next step!

MPR sez turnout best in 3 decades - just now heard it.


MN will NOT go Repub in 2004.

[Vittorio]

2. Let's hope not.

I think the Coleman thing was a fluke...as well as a travesty.

And thanks. :hi:

[saltpoint]

3. Way to go, Minnesota Democrats!

[bucknaked]

4. MN will NOT be "purple" this year!

Believe me, I know too many "out of work" folks, in my own circle of friends and relatives, who have always voted a consistent "R" ticket, are at best, going to sit it out, or vote "3rd party."

[no name no slogan]

8. Yeah, I'm one of them

laid off again during a Bush administration. First time was in 1991, second time was 2004.

I'm a delegate to Senate District 60's convention on April 3. Hopefully I'll go to state this year, too. I was a state delegate in 1988 and 1990, but dropped out during the Clinton years.

This year is different. Everything is coming up Democratic-- we'll take back the state house, increase our lead in the Senate, and turn out a congresscritter or two, with any luck.

This is our year. Let's roll.

[NicoleM]

5. So many people showed up

at mine, we had to have three extra rooms for overflow.

[ShaneGR]

6. 1,100,000 voted in the Ohio Dem Primary yesterday

Astounding really considering the race was pretty much over. More than 100,000 more people voted in the Dem primary than in 92. Trust me, the Repugs are sweating bullets here.

[question everything]

7. Thanks. Let's hope that all will vote D in November n/t

[mn9driver]

9. My caucus in Minneapolis was totally packed.

About 150 showed up in my ward. We had to go down the hall and steal chairs from the Republicans, who only had about a dozen folks. Some of 'em looked envious....they know they're gonna miss some killer parties in the neighborhood this year.

[Zookeeper]

10. My first caucus in 10+ years..

..was great! I moved to this neighborhood a year ago and the caucus was a good way to meet some like-minded neighbors (including one who lives across the street and one house over!) We had 22 people, with as few as 3 or 4 attending in past years.

Our presidential preference results: Kerry-11, Edwards-9, Clark-1, undecided-1. One woman said she isn't a Democrat, but she can't stand Bush. When we were discussing issues, she left early, but on her way out said, "ANYBODY but Bush!"

On a less happy note, I was an Edwards supporter. Another caucus-goer came in late and whispered to me that it sounded like Edwards was quitting. I was sitting with my ballot in my hand. I still voted for him, but was really irked that he didn't wait until all of the votes were in to concede. It certainly makes it easier to take my Edwards lawn sign down!

The Republikooks were down the hall from us. As two of them were passing, I heard one say, loudly, for effect, "They must be Democrats...I can smell them!"

[gristy]

11. woooohooooooooo!

What a blast. This is just great. Remember, EVERYBODY who voted in the Dem primary is voting in November. And they're voting Democratic. GOTV starts now, baby! WoooHooo!

"This is a historic turnout for the DFL Party, a more than five fold increase in caucus participation from the last several years. We have not seen this level of participation since the Vietnam War era."