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LIVE-BLOGGING 3RD CD DFL CONVENTION

By Michael B. Brodkorb | April 12, 2008

I’m at Wayzata Middle School to live-blog the 3rd CD DFL Convention. Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for updates.

4:57 P.M.: I’m done with live-blog, but check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more updates tonight.

4:56 P.M.: MN GOP communications director Mark Drake is handing out a press release which reads “3rd CD DEMOCRATS ENDORSE FAR-LEFT MADIA”

4:54 P.M.: Bonoff has dropped out and is asking the convention to support/endorse Madia.

4:38 P.M.: The rumors are flying around that Bonoff is withdrawing.

4:37 P.M.: The eight ballot results: 65 votes or 41.5% for Bonoff, 90.5 votes or 57.8% for Madia. 93 votes are needed for endorsement. Bonoff lost three votes, Madia picked-up five votes. The ninth ballot is about to begin.

4:26 P.M.: Matt from MN Publius just wrote “Please Endorse Madia for the Party’s Sake”

4:23 P.M.: The rumors of a 6:00 P.M. deadline has just been cleared-up. We can be here all night – there is no time limit.

4:08 P.M.: The seventh ballot results: 68 votes or 44% for Bonoff, 85.5 votes or 55.3% for Madia. 93 votes are needed for endorsement. Bonoff lost four votes, Madia picked-up one vote. The eight ballot is about to begin.

3:52 P.M.: The rumors of no endorsement today has Zack at MN Publius upset. No endorsement today will be a huge setback for Democrats.

3:32 P.M.: Key Democrats at the convention are now admitting that there may be no endorsement today.

3:30 P.M.: The sixth ballot results: 72 votes or 46% for Bonoff, 84.5 votes or 54% for Madia. 93 votes are needed for endorsement. Madia picked-up one vote. The seventh ballot is about to begin.

3:20 P.M.: While I was on the radio, Bonoff and Madia both addressed the convention. From what I heard, Bonoff have the better speech. We’ll see if she picks up any votes.

2:55 P.M.: The fifth ballot results: 72 votes or 46.3% for Bonoff, 83.5 votes or 53.7% for Madia. 93 votes are needed for endorsement. Bonoff loss one vote, Madia picked-up one vote. The sixth ballot is about to begin.

2:50 P.M.: King will be doing the radio show by himself for at least the first hour. I’m not leaving this convention, but I’ll be calling in at 3:05 P.M.

2:31 P.M.: The fourth ballot results: 73 votes or 46.9% for Bonoff, 82.5 votes or 53.1% for Madia. 93 votes are needed for endorsement. Bonoff picked-up one vote, Madia lost one vote. The fifth ballot is about to begin.

2:15 P.M.: I’m still waiting for the results from the 4th ballot. The campaigns are still fired up and ready for a long day.

2:07 The third ballot results: 72 votes or 46% for Bonoff, 84.5 votes or 54% for Madia. 93 votes are needed for endorsement. Madia picked up two votes. The fourth ballot is about to begin.

1:42 P.M.: The second ballot results: 74 votes or 47.3% for Bonoff, 82.5 votes or 52.7% for Madia. 93 votes are needed for endorsement. The third ballot is about to begin.

1:35 P.M.: MN GOP Communications director Mark Drake is here to provide comment to the media after the DFL endorses a candidate. In the picture below, Drake is talking with a dedicated reader of Minnesota Democrats Exposed, Two Putt Tommy

1:29 P.M.: Some of the people/bloggers that I have spoke to about the 1st ballot results are surprised that the margin between Bonoff and Madia was so close. While most people didn’t think Madia would win on the 1st ballot, I think they were generally surprised that he didn’t have more votes.

1:20 P.M. First ballot results: 70 votes or 45.3% for Bonoff, 82.5 votes or 53.4% for Madia. 93 votes are needed for endorsement. The second ballot is about to begin.

1:04 P.M.: The first ballot is being counted.

12:58 P.M.: The rules for balloting contain in an interesting twist: ballots must be signed. This is different than Republican conventions.

12:50 P.M.: I just spoke with Elizabeth Levang to get her reaction to Bonoff’s speech. Levang was angered by Bonoff’s speech as she thinks Bonoff is perpetuating the lie that she can work across party lines. Levang thinks Bonoff has duped the people wearing the red-shirts for Bonoff. Maclean added that she and Elizabeth counted on Bonoff to keep her promises and work on an issue that effects families across Minnesota. She failed.

12:47 P.M.: The balloting is about to start. This is when the fun begins.

12:44 P.M.: Wow, I just had a great lunch from Subway. For $6 you get a sandwich, bag of chips, cookie and soda. The DFL sure knows how to run a convention, as I didn’t need to leave the building.

12:25 P.M.: The candidates are now doing a Q & A. It’s tough to hear the answers, so I’ll pass on transcribing.

12:06 P.M.: Bonoff’s presentation has just started. Her son is introducing Bonoff. In an interesting developing, Sandy Maclean and Elizabeth Lavang are at the convention. I’ve been asked by a few delegates about my posts regarding Bonoff’s mismanagement of the Grieving Parents Act in the Minnesota Senate.

11:53 A.M.: Madia’s campaign is going first…he has a total of ten minutes.

11:50 A.M.: The campaign presentations are about to begin…I don’t know who is speaking first, but the Bonoff people are getting ready.

11:40 A.M.: Representative Ron Erhadt just arrived at the convention. He received a warm response as the chair recognized him.

11:37 A.M.: The UpTake and MN Publius are also live-blogging today’s convention.

11:36 A.M.: A picture of a divided crowd at today’s convention.

11:13 A.M.: Al Franken is about to speak…actually, Mrs. Molin is on stage with Franken. No mention of his workers’ compensation insurance problems that are mentioned in today’s newspapers

11:03 A.M.: Former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton is now speaking on behalf of Senator Hillary Clinton, but mentioned Obama. Dayton is claiming that McCain wants another “100 years” of war in Iraq. I’ll have a response post about Dayton’s speech later this week.

11:00 A.M.: During a restroom break, I missed Jack Nelson-Pallymeyer’s speech.

10:25 A.M.: Chairman Melendez just delivered a great message that I will remember for Republican conventions. Here’s a summary: If you are a Bonoff supporter, and Bonoff get is endorsed, the last thing you want to do today is tick off a Madia supporter because you will need their help . Chairman Melendez than switched the roles and said that Madia supporters shouldn’t tick off Bonoff supporters. It was a good message.

10:24 A.M.: This is picture from a Madia rally held before the convention.

10:22 A.M.: DFL Party chairman Brian Melendez is speaking…he asked the candidates to “play nice” at today’s convention.

10:14 A.M.: The Madia supporters are shouting because Ashwin just walked in to the convention hall. They are chanting “WIN ASHWIN!”

10:11 A.M.: My wireless connection isn’t very strong, so I don’t think I will post many videos while I am at the convention.

9:45 A.M.: Non-partisan Secretary of State Mark Ritchie is here – not a big surprise. He’s likely signing people up on new e-mail list. Just kidding. Attorney General Lori Swanson just walked in to the auditorium. I’ll be interested to see the reaction from the crowd if she speaks. Swanson has been battling unions over efforts to unionize attorneys in Swanson office.

9:34 A.M.: During breaks in the convention business, I’ll be posting video clips. I’m loading a video clip of DFL candidate Ashwin Madia and his supporters walking through the gauntlet of Terri Bonoff supporters. The video will give you an idea of the intensity level today.

9:25 A.M.: The turnout is huge. Bonoff’s supporters are wearing red-shirts and Madia supporters are wearing blue shirts. The place is buzzing with activity. I love political conventions.

9:20 A.M.: I want to thank the 3rd CD DFL and also John Stiles and Kelly Schwinghammer at the Minnesota DFL for providing me with blog credentials for today’s convention.

Topics: Ashwin Madia, Uncategorized | 27 Comments »