Almanac: At the Capitol

Now the ground staff will line up the votes for endorsement. After rallying their troops earlier this morning, DFL U.S. Senate candidates took questions from delegates for an hour at the DFL State Convention in Rochester. The questions were pre-selected and pre-screened and thus predictable.

Yes, they'll abide. Yes, they'll reach out to Republicans and Independents. Yes, they'll work to stop global warming. Yes, they'll roll back tax cuts and create "investments." Yes, they're proud to be Democrats (Franken was a Republican as a boy and JNP always a Dem). Yes, they want more and better healthcare. Yes, they want to welcome immigrants with "compassion." Yes, they'll get troops out of Iraq. Yes, they're passionate and have written some books too. Franken took credit for helping get people elected to state House and Congress.

The biggest news is what didn't come up in the questions and what everyone is really talking about: Franken's troubles with taxes and potentially offensive jokes. Franken made reference to his years on Saturday Night Live where he said he "wrote a lot of satire." We'll see if that issue surfaces through the ballot results later this afternoon.

We just got inside Al Franken's "war room" at the DFL State Convention in Rochester. In our interview I told Franken about Doug Grow's story saying Mike Ciresi is "likely" to challenge Franken in a primary. Franken reminded us that Ciresi got out because of lack of support and said he wouldn't challenge the endorsed candidate and Franken added "I hope he keeps his word."

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer told us he is even with Franken on delegates and he thinks the momentum is on his side. Franken responded that that's just not true. Nelson-Pallmeyer begrudgingly admitted that some of his surge may have to do with Franken's troubles, but JNP says it's mostly about his message of hope and talk on the issues like the war and economy. Franken said he'd like to move on to those issues too and says Minnesotans will demand it. But when I asked how people focus on issues and Norm Coleman when Franken is associated with headlines with words like taxes, porn and rape. Franken says he is optimitic the media will move on to the issues, even though his book details how the media perfer to cover scandals because it's easier than issues.

Much more from the candidates and the convention tonight on Almanac.

Update: As of 7:45, the arena is more than half-filled and and the line outside is said to stretch all the way to I-94.

Supporters are starting to stream into the arena and fill the floor in front of the podium. Obama's people tell me he won't take the stage before 9pm. An Eden Prairie mom, teacher and former Republican JoAnn Syverson will introduce Obama. She will be the only speaker besides Obama. Her son is an Iraqi war veteran. Michelle Obama will appear with her husbad and then take a seat. Meanwhile local officials are working the press. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is doing interviews. House Majority Leader Tony Sertich will be doing the same later.

At the State Republican Convention Governor Tim Pawlenty just challenged the Republican Party to have broad appeal and reach out. He told the story of his working class siblings who are all Democrats. And when he pointed out how they had common ground on many issues like education, healthcare and security, he asked them why they weren't Republicans and they said "they're not for the working people." Pawlenty said that "shows the perception we've got to get over." He said Republicans have not done as good a job of making meaningful connections with voters. The New York Times' David Brooks labeled Pawlenty the "godfather of Sam's Club conservatism" and his message today certainly speaks to that. We talked to all of Pawlenty's siblings all at one time he first ran for office, here's part of those profiles.

Pawlenty seemed relaxed and confident, speaking from the hip which he does well. He made a case for his "friend John McCain" and reminded the convention about McCain's service to country telling the story of the prisoner of war stitching an American flag in captivity. He told the convention which has been feisty and divided because of the Ron Paul issue "when the gavel comes down we have to unite."

Ron Paul's revolution hit Rochester early this morning as well over 100 supporters rallied outside the State Republican Convention. Paul was denied the podium inside but kept the faithful engaged, inspired and entertained with his anti-tax anti-war libertarian message. It was the first time I've covered Paul in person and he seemed warm, funny and real. He has some real support here too.

The love was everywhere. The love was bi-partisan. The love was coming from the governor to lawmakers, even DFL lawmakers. House Tax Chair Ann Lenczewski got an enormous amount of praise for helping making the whole end of session deal happen. Bonding Chairs Langseth and Hausman got humorous props too. Hausman who originally had her key project Central Corridor axed by the gov in the first bonding bill today said "we are celebrating and joyous." Of course the bonding bill creates the first new state park in 30 years, builds a new veterans home and starts a new transit line between the Twin Cities. Pawlenty noted that the "path was a little bumpy" on the bonding bill, but his strategy of line-item vetoes worked and many call it the turning point of the session.

Healthcare Chairs Huntley and Berglin (who could not attend) were also congratulated on a package that creates better affordability, quality and accessibility. Huntley said it was the most important bill in almost decades. The governor said it could create $7 billion in savings. It insures 12,000 more Minnesotans.

A couple of other notes from a fun and long news conference: Pawlenty joked that his vocal cords still had not fully recovered from his hockey injury. That could be an issue as he continues to stump for his friend John McCain, but his self-deprecating humor goes over well as always. He says he will likely veto the mortgage foreclosure bill that is sitting on his desk because it would make Minnesota "an island" and "drive up credit costs for the 89% of Minnesotans not in foreclosure." He will also line item money for California car standards from the budget bill because that policy language did not pass.