6 minutes now passed the eleven main NPR's Main Street radio coverage of world is usually supported by the blandin foundation strengthening rural communities and Environmental Education through the school nature project. How do you get into the microphone to be her good morning this morning from the dfl party State Convention at the National Hockey Center in Saint Cloud from political reporters Martin Koski Carrie Louise booth and marks back like and of course continuing analysis from meek and Horner and Stacy Jensen. Also later in the program will be opening online. So you can join our coverage fixed or hear of course is just who if anybody the 1449 delegates will end up endorsing for governor. There are six candidates in the race, but only two are thought to have any real chance to win the party's endorsement it all the money and campaign resources that go with that endorsement that contest between Hennepin County attorney Mike Freeman. Attorney general skip Humphrey will be played out tomorrow. It will be here with live coverage big story. This morning is going to be who will be running for lieutenant. Governor know by criminals already announced his choice state representative Ruth Johnson. Humphrey is meeting with reporters early this afternoon to announce his choice and there are reports as you heard in the News gas that's in a majority of Rodger Moore has agreed to run with. Mr. Humphrey will have more in that of course throughout the program. They convention officially got underway about an hour ago. I'm calling to order the 1998 Convention of the democratic farmer labor party. the 1998 take care and have a half of Gail Huntley the associate chair and myself. I want to thank you for your hard work and dedication to our party its values and its candidates. We are very glad to see you all here. You'll hear a lot of speeches this weekend, but one message I want you to hear loud and clear is we will win in November of 1998. That was State party chair Dixon. He's officially opening the 1998 dfl State Convention and their way here at the National Hockey Center in st. Cloud the hockey center located on the campus of St. Cloud State University as you might expect and is his traditional at these conventions the hockey center festooned with balloons signs. And of course no perfume that we've noticed so far there was a controversy of sorts about whether or not the delegates and alternates would be allowed to use any fragrances suggestion being the perhaps. They shouldn't and I know air horns allowed and no bright strobe lights will keep you posted on that Continuing Story But as we say the main another main item on the agenda today endorsements for state auditor State Treasurer. There's going to be some platform debate. Those are the official items. The big story is who this Who these delegates will ultimately endorse for governor in that would have happened tomorrow, but lots of lots of work being done today Martin passed you join just now with the quick update on the skip Humphrey campaign as you say the endorsement is until tomorrow for governor, but really the work is well underway here. Skip Humphrey has been here since early in the morning meeting and greeting delegates what he's trying here is an upset. He's not expected to win the endorsement. Mike Freeman is but the skip Humphrey campaign is trying some fireworks and political fireworks at their own. Maybe you can have strobe lights here, but they're trying to sort of Dazzle delegates with the fact that they may have a a big name for lieutenant governor in the works hear the reports are that Rodger. Mow. The Senate Majority Leader will have signed on will know for sure it when they have an official announcement. They're still being a little cagey about confirming it but the idea there is that along with some of the momentum from some of the polls this week's in the media poll showing Humphrey a strong popular favorite. The the hungry campaign is is hoping for an upset here and they even sell Knowledge the right now still don't have enough delegates. They have fewer than Mike Freeman. They're going to try to maybe get some of these people to change their minds. Mark should act like you've been following the Freeman campaign and it seems like a little bit of the momentum has been lost. Huron last night hotel room early this morning at downtown st. Cloud right now. He's out on the floor trying to convince more delegates than he indeed is a candidate for endorsement. Everyone here is acknowledging. The Freeman has more delegates than any of the other candidates Gary Humphrey at the closest Challengers estimating. The Freeman has about 42% of the delegates with Humphrey at about 34% is the large block of uncommitted delegates Freeman and Humphrey will be fighting over those. I'm committed to the delegates for their support up until the very last minute here Freeman's message. Did the delegates is the central theme is about endorsement. He is the only candidate who will honor the endorsement system. It's a big issue for many delegates here who really want this convention to mean something and Freeman is stressing that as he talks to the uncommitted delegates. He's promising to end his campaign if delegates choose another candidate here and then go or somebody like a skip Humphrey. He's also talking however about education which is a big issue with all of the candidates here. They're very upbeat at the Freeman campaign Orville Freeman, the former governor of Minnesota, the father of Mike Freeman give apparently arousing pep talk last night cream and supporters Gary see this convention as their convention way. We'll be talking with Mike Freeman and just a couple of minutes will be joining later this hour by attorney general. Skip Humphrey, but we should note there are of course a four other candidates seeking the dfl party's nomination for governor. Not necessarily the endorsement the convention here will it will presumably endorse a candidate that means that they get official party support, but then there's the primary in September and had which the official nomination is conferred. And so the four candidates other than Freeman and Humphrey are clearly targeting that the September primary they have Presence here though those other four candidates at the convention and joining us now with that part of the story is Minnesota Public Radio is Karen Louise booth. Rienda Freeman signs. You have to scour this Arena to really see signs to put up by the Ted Mondale campaign that Doug Johnson campaign of Arc Dayton campaign in the John Marti can't pay actually did a Doug Johnson and John Marty will have a present but Ted Mondale and tell Mark Dayton are not going to be here until tomorrow. All the rules will provide for all of the candidates to be able to address the delegates here this weekend, even though the candidates might not be seeking the endorsement Doug Johnson. He's always represented the range and the North Shore communities. He's really a well line with the labor vote in the Minnesota Farmers Union. He has good marks from the children's defense fund. What sets him apart from any of the other candidates is his tax policies a he's Cherokee send a Texas committee and probably one of the most powerful people in state government. He's well-liked a nap, but if. Johnson Job, it has to be that bad. It's the New York Yankees play some other candidates because of his tax Collies policies. He's always maintained campaign Finance reform. He drove most of the changes over that handful of years by dramatically reducing campaign contribution limits something that a place well with voters who are disgruntled by the process if you will Heap in 1993 is known for his gubernatorial Betty who won the endorsement to that you're much to the Chagrin of of many, but he went on to squeak by in the primary, but lost in the landslide to Governor ardy Carlson. Gary is a real spy that we expect. Basically it would drop it would change What's called the drop rule the drop rule means that after three ballots if candidates don't have a certain percentage of support for the delegates. They get dropped the process all together. Now you please minor candidates like date and Marty Mondale and Johnson and feasibly be out of the process after three pallets if they don't have a certain percentage point and there. Play on the floor. I hear to to change that so that candidates get dropped one at a time there by leaving more candidates in the process for longer and we'll see that come up when. Adoption Gary. All right. Thank you so much Karen, Louise both checking in from the floor of the National Hockey Center here where they 1998 dfl State Convention is underway. Joining me now here at our broadcasts table is Hennepin County attorney. Mike Freeman. One of the two leading contenders for the dfl party's endorsement morning. Mr. Freeman. It's always nice to be here. Thanks Gary. What what's your assessment sir? Everything under control? All the delegates ready to confer endorsement those of us who enjoy the political process always loved the first morning of the convention. The air conditioning is working the tables aren't littered. The people are excited to see each other and frankly just a lot of fun. What do you make of all the to do hear about the the Humphrey choice for lieutenant? Governor? Have you heard as he in fact decided to go with Rodger Moore? I think it's pretty clear that he has decided with Rodger Moen Rodger Mozart friend of mine and he's a good man, but I think the delegates here or to select governor candidate. Are they going to select Mike Freeman or skip Humphrey? Has the better Vision in the leadership and frankly who has the organization that can win an election and I think the answering all three of those is my Freeman when you talk to a delegate. Mr. Freeman IG. I have four months of fears realized. What do you tell them? How do you how do you convince them that you are the best of the Cannons? I already asked them. What are the issues that concern them the most in when I hear again and again is education and infrastructure building concerned about the environment than the energy and concern about diversity. And then I try to talk to them with them about the details issue papers. We worked on I wish you would one issue paper every month now since December and they aren't something we just threw together we made with hundreds of people to put this together over a Year's. Of time delegates are really focusing on issues. They're talkin working through what they feel are the most important components of leadership and then there Very interested but who can win the election in one of the things that I've been talking with them a lot about the election when he is who has the Grassroots organization to do that. I think most delegates here and most commentators would say the Freeman organization is far superior. Are you at all concerned about the poles that came out this week that indicate? Skip Humphrey is really way ahead in the primary voters presumably a general election voters and apparently everybody including all the Republicans in the last week of August to the first week of September that magnitude would cause some concern but most voters aren't even thinking about politics right now the people who are the people in the room that we're looking at Gary. These are the two thousand to 3000 people who care most about it. They've talked about an issues with us. They looked at our record they've examined us and we've talked with them and these are the people who are most knowledgeable the challenge then is for someone like me just like it was Paul wellstone to take an endorsement Victory and translate that into voter support during the summer and that's exactly what I plan to do. What do you see the you don't have enough delegates to get endorsed right? No, correct. We're getting close. Where do you see the other ones coming from do they come from that uncommitted block do they come from delegates to at least nominally are supporting the mondale's and Dayton's and Marty's but we think that that there are enough uncommitted delegates and delegates from other candidates will have to drop out based on the Dropout rule for us to get endorsed. And obviously we have talked to the number of the Humphrey people and the people in this convention want to endorse they believe in the endorsement process. That's why they're spending three days and time and energy to be here and we believe that will be endorsed hard to predict when but the endorsement will come on Saturday. It will be Saturday, not Sunday. It will be Saturday to make sure all the delegate. Turn all the television and newspaper and radio commentators get a good night sleep on Saturday night. Thanks so much for coming by to good luck to you. And if an attorney Mike Freeman one of the two main contenders for the dfl party endorsement here at the dfl State Convention. We have been joined here at the table now by two other commentators who are going to hear from this weekend to play tackle analyst in this case are to dfl analysts Bob McCann. Sarah stays and I will be talking a few minutes with the attorney general. Skip Humphrey and talking with some delegates as well. But Bob what's your sense? It has a Humphrey managed to catch bream in here at the convention is he likely going to actually get an endorsement or I will Mike Freeman be able to hang on. This is a Freeman convention. It wouldn't exist. If it wasn't for Mike Freeman there were twenty-five thousand people went to their Precinct caucuses back in March and every day since it has been prowling and endorsement. Sarah stage you will actually ran the Freeman campaign four years ago. You get the sense that that he's actually going to be able to win this time last time. He came up short against John Marty. Across the floor of the convention you can see many many Freeman floor workers moving from table to table group to group. And so it's very clear that he's got the infrastructure that he needs to mount a very strong campaign for the endorsement shock doing a minute ago that that that campaign organization really translates into an effective general election campaign and presumably ability to govern is that true turn out to vote. Obviously, the candidate does not win. And so the candidate that has the infrastructure and infrastructure ability to turn out the voters. They get out the vote upper at the end of The Campaign is the candidate who it'll eventually win. I think in the dfl primary become September 15th, there will be active contest at least of between whoever this endorse candidate maybe which would be Mike Freeman and three or four other well-financed aggressive candidacies and likely a fella named Doug Johnson state senator from the arrowhead region of Minnesota's 8th District in the Northeast there a timer. Minnesota public radio's Bill Kaplan has been spending some time looking into the value of this endorsement to hear so much about this and that's obviously why these candidates are here today at least delegates are here today to try to bring you decide which candidate will actually received party endorsement question is how valuable will it turn out to be is Bob make notes. He thinks Doug Johnson who is not going to win the endorsement will end up with the party's nomination as a result of the September primaries of how valuable is this party endorsement. There's Bell captains report typically brings with it party money voter and donor lists, get-out-the-vote activities and sample ballots political assets, but otherwise would cost candidates hundreds of thousands of dollars Hennepin County attorney and dfl candidate for Governor. Mike Freeman says the endorsement is important to winning office who ever wins an endorsement. He's got a leg up. It's the first Big Challenge. It's the first large group that are really examine the Canada. And somebody's been selected. I think it's an important First Step Freeman is the only one of six dfl candidates for Governor who says he will bow out of the race. If the endorsement goes to someone else the rest say they'll stay in the race until voters have their say in the September primary. That means the endorsement is only one step on the way to the party nomination attorney general. Skip Humphrey says as long as others are running in the primary, he will to I've always thought endorsement and I want to make sure that the party makes us election that will provide the best opportunity for our values are dfl values and our agenda to be voted upon and decided upon by the people of Minnesota critics say the endorsements value is eroding because the process of caucuses and conventions is too complex and time-consuming and filters out too many mainstream voters my cash former dfl party chair. Now I can't edit for attorney general is among them. Blunt of critics even joins Republicans in mocking the dfl's request that convention delegates not wear fragrances. You got a very very small sub section of society involved in this. These are people generally off to the extreme single-issue voters. Who will it seem to be more concerned about whether you smell or it make noise or have strobe lights who don't want to discuss issues, you know, it it's it's the high altar of political correctness and the end result being as it doesn't carry a credibility dfl party chair dicks and he says the party endorsement doesn't deserve the flak. It takes it has a lot of value it has primary value I think comes from being able to be part of a team of folks who are on a combined message, you know about improving public education grading livable wage jobs in making our neighborhood safe and Community strong and when you get everyone on that message and looking and when people Minnesota see that as a team, I think that's where the power of the endorsement really plays out the Republican endorsement. Has had its share problems and 1994 Republican Governor Arne Carlson won re-election, even though the party endorsed Allen Quist the same year political gadfly Sharon Anderson defeated the endorsed candidate in the Republican primary for attorney general party executive director. Tony Sutton says this year the party has two main enemies Democrats and Republicans who don't abide by the endorsement but it's pretty clear that if the people are the primary we will beat them. We will squash them and we will do whatever it takes to defeat them because the endorsement Is critical to us because it without the endorsement we have no way to make sure that our candidates once they're elected will put our platform into law already Carlson's Landslide Victory four years ago in defiance of the endorsement of both major parties provide some of the strongest evidence of the approaching power of major party endorsements. Former dfl party chair Todd Otis. Humphrey supporter says the solution is not clear. But the problem is the party endorsement process does not adequately encourage people to kind of swallow hard and say what I don't like that stand on that issue, but I'll go for this person and it's the splintering is has his hurt. And so I think you know, I don't know how we do it, but I think it's some point both parties need to look at themselves, see how they can attract the average citizen back and we're effectively That was that was formerly dfl party chair Todd, Otis speaking with the Minnesota public radio's Bill Catlin about the value of the party endorsement that is presumably going to be deferred this weekend on either Mike Freeman or skip Humphrey with six candidates in the race for governor to say nothing of all of the other issues that can divide a party of this size there. Needless to say is some concern about maintaining Unity among among the delegates and among the party faithful the carrot dick cities who is the current party chairman met with reporters earlier this morning and have a talk about that issue and Karen Louise Booth charges for that story Karen. Thank you, Jerry dick met with reporters this morning right before he convened the convention and laid down the gavel for the candidates for them to be on message that is use their platform to party platform us stay on message. He also said that it's not worried about party Unity here this weekend, but in his view of use this process use the endorsement process right now isn't open process. This is what he had to say about that. The best predictor of future behavior is past Behavior. We've seen these candidates stay unified. We seen them stay unified throughout this season, and we have enjoyed having them talk on our core value messages. You don't carry. We also asked him what he thought the chances were for no endorsement, which is always a possibility. He doesn't think that'll happen. He thinks he'll come out of here with some kind of an endorsement. And so we also talked to him about this other little know and Smule, you know, the NFL party is often is sometimes complimented and sometimes criticized for its political correctness delegates here. This weekend have been asked not to wear any unruly have to a costumes and like it in the way Ronnie hockey arena down here. It's not the biggest convention floors and because if they closed space another rule is What's called the perfume roll and so people have been asked to think of their neighbors that these these Close Quarters and perhaps Skip by the dabbing of the perfume in the cologne for the weekend. We asked him about that and he said it's just a matter of courtesy for one another in the club. Setting like this but all in all big cities believe that everybody will hang together be unified and he does believe that while the endorsement process is open in his view. He believes there will be one. I thank you Karen Louise Booth checking in from the floor of the dfl State Convention. No hats Bob Sarah. No, no funny hats this year either. I hadn't heard about that until Karen just mentioned that that it just doesn't seem like a convention without a funny hat into a rather ill-advised public relations strategy and taking on perfume and a half. Barber I'm wondering you know in terms of this no endorsement possibility. Do you think there is what is that in my experience delegates exist for one purpose and that is to endorse candidates if they're unable to come to an endorsement then what was the purpose of their spending so much of the last 3 or 4 months in the party process and in trying to question the candidates and somehow campaign for the ones that they say they thought were important be the counter argument is that if you make an endorsement, for example such as John Marty in 1994 where voters in the general election can only the candidate can only attract 28% of the voters in the state. Minnesota really you also dishonor the process. So I think these delegates want they want to indoors and they want to endorse a winning candidate. That's what Mike Freeman is trying to convince people in light of the poles that came out this last week that that showed him, you know, so far behind Humphrey in this contest that he has a legitimate claim on on being a potential winning candidate for the dfl. Remember here is that Freeman needs to meet a bar of 61% in order to meet his goal which is endorsement. Well Humphrey really only needs to meet a bar of 41% which is what he will need in order to block and endorsement. So you have two very strong candidate but operating under different standards for victory. One of the Republican Party officials say the other day that they they really believe strongly in making sure that the endorsed candidates are the endorsed candidates no challenges in the primary and and he said that they're just going to squish anybody who challenges their endorsed candidates will the dfl party take Villa's aggressive in supporting its endorsed Canada. Well, they go out to try to squish all these other candidates in the primary and the primary so no matter How aggressive the party is with 5 challenges and makes it very difficult to really melt that kind of campaign. The Republicans are in much better shape because they have many fewer candidates in. The race is a Big Field. I don't think the dfl party as such as in in the position to talk about squishing anyone now and Toni Sutton. He's in a different circumstance over in the Republican Party in the Democratic party. The the principal contributors to the party's unified efforts are all often identified with different candidates in this 6-person contest one of them for her example, that is supported the dfl party. Hugely through the years is one of the candidates Mark Dayton. Another would be a lie to messenger and marks former wife another. Advanced Opperman Humphreys chair hear another be sanma Campland who is supporting Ted Mondale. So if you start going down the list of the people who are responsible for bringing in the money that finances the bfl's huge efforts that could take place in the primary. They're already committed to other candidates in in a sense. There's there's a hollowness to an endorsement when you don't have the financial backing to to support it. I got a real issue here that what Democrat States is the presence of Doug Johnson in the primary given that the Republicans endorse a candidate. There is a certain potential for crossover voters in the primary to squirt gun Johnson primarily along Pro Lifeline, which would create a real upset in the Democratic Party from the dfl state convention being held this year at the National Hockey Center in st. Cloud located on the st. Cloud State University campus big order of business. Of course is to endorse a candidate for governor. Delegates will also be endorsing candidates for all the other constitutional officers there going to be drafting an official party platform. Lots of other rules and party business for the delegates to discuss and they are at the heart of these conventions the candidates get all the publicity. They have all the balloons all the signs, but it's the 1449 delegates gathered on the floor of the hockey Center who we really are the convention and Martin cost to join Giselle from the floor of the convention with the one of those 1449 voting delegates Martin. And Gary, I'm here live with parents strike around the convention floor and Karen at the delegate from Isanti County under a fourth-time delegate. So you're something of a Veterinary work experience with this whole process. This looks a little chaotic to me. Is it business as usual kind of just to kind of get the How the system works I'm getting better for your thinking going into this. So you are by Mike Freeman supporter, but not just for any old issues. You got some Irish Cultural concerns in mind. Is that correct? Because of his background and Agriculture and because of his dad and if he runs into questions, I keep telling him just go ask your dad. Is that a first thing Orville Freeman former governor and former secretary of agriculture you of course run what you call a mom and papa dairy farm and there's been a lot of talk in recent years about dairy farms going under really quickly in this state or the smaller Farms her disappearing the larger ones coming in. Is there anything I can do to stop that? Is that why you're ever you're sporting Freeman? Yes, there is something the governor can at least be an advocate for the small farm. We haven't had a governor that even cared about small Family Farms. All they care about is the big one are there enough people on this floor right now who care about a good enough then it'll sway about do you think? Another issue, you are one of the 10 to 15 estimated percent here who are pro-life sometimes pro-life voters vote in a block. They organized really well. Is that going to happen to you feel in this particular endorsement process? Not that I'm aware of no, no move behind. We've heard some rumors for half of a Mike Freeman support for on the part of a pro-lifers. Not really sure why but be a strategic move. I heard that at all. No, I haven't heard. Of course the convention is just started to why don't you supporting Doug Johnson use the only pro-life or in this race? He's also from more your neck of the woods. So at least, you know, he's from outside the Twin Cities area. We wouldn't see why not support him. I guess. I don't know enough about it to be perfectly honest with you for life is not enough for your vote for him back to you. Thank you Martin Martin Acosta checking in from the floor of the dfl State Convention joining me here at the table or rdfl political analyst by Meek and Sarah stays Republican analyst Sarah janecek and Tom Horner are with us as well. And they'll be joining us over the noon hour. If not before over the noon hour. Today. We're going to be opening up the phone line. So you'll be able to join our conversation. And of course our coverage will continue for candidates will be joining us. I think and just a few minutes attorney general. Skip Humphrey will be joining us here at the table talk a little bit about how about his campaign? Expected to officially announce in about 1 this afternoon that Senate Majority Leader State Senate Majority Leader Rodger mole is going to serve as his running mate be the lieutenant governor if mr. Humphrey is the government. So we have lots of coverage plan to as we move along here. Let me put a couple of questions to rdfl analyst. Mr. Me and Miz Stace the dad Factor was a item with the delegate. We just heard from the Freeman dad. The Humphrey dad's issue is that we've heard so much about this. Is that really something that will likely play into the delegates decision. Do you think Spell to the extent of their dad name confers name recognition. It's important to the extent that the dad out State agricultural ties. Give the son of boost. I believe that it also helps the candidates it cuts both ways. However, there's a lot of speculation and sort of derision about the pain of My Three Sons Factor. So I guess I think all in all it's a neutral Bob. Well, I think the delegates truly do look at the candidates on the on the Merit of their single generation platform. Not not so much what the parentage should bring store them in my case for that would be Ted Mondale who's not even at this convention in every way. He is a a strong contender in those two poles if we publish this week, he did it fairly well, but he he's not even contain. Four delegates support here because he's not Walter Mondale heat. He is not Walter Mondale on labor issues. He's not Walter Mondale on all of the social spending tax and spend part of the democratic party. The first pledge potette Mondale has made is the keys going to see that minnesotans. I get a reduction in the sales tax of 1/2 % That's a pretty good contrast to what his father Walter said back in 84 when he got indoor stick for president. It was over. The first thing I'm going to do is tell you I'm going to raise taxes were the sons are not the same as the fathers and in Mondale is a good example of the sons have moved to the right of where their fathers are my Less so than the other two but but particularly Humphrey and Mondale are apples that have fallen rather far from their fathers trees in a political sense to you folks have been taking a close. Look at the two leading contenders hear a Humphrey and Freeman with the specific mission of trying to tell listeners how they differ on the issues forget about these business business of electability and whose dad did what and so on so forth out of these two front-runners differ on the big issues Gary. That was a tough assignment. It's tough to find differences between these two guys that they are really is no outstanding single policy difference where you can say, they're apples and oranges. I think it we've got a couple of some of the main issues Here Rend and Marcus has pointed out already to me here is how similar they seem to be I think taxes a good case right Mark. Is it calling for some big tax cut or anything like that? Democrats knew conscious pro-family pro-labor champions of the environment we walk through the different areas of Education Martin both fever all day kindergarten for example station does a bit of a different Sara Martin both sort of have variance on this idea that that minnesotans need more than just high school that that there should be more State money to help people with post-secondary with one or two years of college under the slight difference there. Humphrey talks about 2 years of tuition help with tuition based on me. That's what I piggybacks on the whole Hope Scholarship available on the federal level of equipment ministration Freeman talks about one-year free of tuition regardless of need though and that's us a real difference there. But the philosophy behind those two moves are very similar and the trend continues if you look at other issues in agriculture, for example. The feedlot moratorium. There's a little bit of infighting between the Freeman and Humphrey campaign on some details of the feedlot moratorium Freeman maintains at Humphrey's kind of switched his position on that more moratorium. Humphrey says if you changed a bit of language in order to protect small family Farmers on the big feedlot issue workers compensation Martin a big issue for a lot of candidates Democrats and Republicans on different sides of that. Once again, you really have Freeman and Humphrey coming down on the same side here that although you could probably characterize Freeman as closer to throw the Labour party line here. I think he's really done done a lot of work trying to woo the other labor boat and 1/2 things. He said is the recent reforms of a few years ago in workers comp how much the benefits should be. How is it hard to get should be rolled back a little bit but some of those before cutting too much to workers rights Humphrey Humphrey defense workers comp, but he's not so eager about rolling back from those reforms so there might be a liked a difference there down the road and on the other Actually, maybe we could reform it a little bit more to give back some of the things that maybe we're taking away from from injured worker. So the bottom line here. Gary is that these two candidates are good Democrats. They are they carry the strong Democratic themes the biggest difference between them and see a show of endorsement. That's a big issue right here right now. Mike Freeman, obviously honoring this convention endorsements. Skip Humphrey saying he'll run in the primary and if he's not the endorsed candidates and to all these people that is more than just the electability question. That's more than just horse race to a lot of people sitting on this floor right now that isn't issue because it's about whether or not you really believe what the party stands for service-based Bob meat. It's more than just whether they believe in what the party stands for. It really is a contest between those who believe in the caucus system and those who would like to reform politics in Minnesota to make Egyptian Transformer State into a primary States and there is a very significant difference in that point of view the way of course with a Humphrey campaign representing the primary strategy and the Freeman campaign representing the caucus strategy. It's not just about endorsement. It's about the overall philosophical approach to politics in Minnesota. And that's a very significant issue to people but I think any number of political advisors very strongly suggested to him which was simply to bypass this contest take his whole numbers that is Fundraising ability and all the rest into a primary in essence. You would have pulled the plug on the dfl party. I I don't imagine anyone would want to cover a convention where there was only one candidate contesting for endorsement and in skip Humphrey by keeping himself in the race. Although he is pointed out that he's going to go to the primary along with the rat eat. He is here and he's participating and and I have never asked him the question but I suspected it must be a very personal reason that he doesn't want to see this party go away when I've heard him talk to DIA Fellers. He says he would like to see the process were formed. He'd like to see some kind of bug multi endorsement process with an earlier primary and in so that this part that the idea of all these people who participate in their neighborhood level income. Do the conventions. That would continue but that it wouldn't it wouldn't be the final word and it wouldn't be sort of a ticket to disaster which is what happens. Sometimes when you endorsed candidates who cannot even hardly get through a primary we texted each me articulated is a very black-and-white issue either you're for the caucus system or your for the primary system and that hasn't allowed a lot of more substantial debate around exactly how we would reform the current system, which I think everybody agrees does need to be reformed. You're listening to live coverage from the dfl State Convention. We're broadcasting from the National Hockey Center on the campus of Saint Cloud State University in St. Cloud 1998 dfl State Convention met in item of business, of course before the convention trying to decide who to endorse for governor to send on to the September primary. There will be a primary challenge right now. It looks like I'll be at least five Democrats in the September primary. But of course the again it's on actually have to file till July. So we'll see how many candidates actually end up in the race the Republicans for their part to have three candidates running for actually three main contenders. They say that they will not go on to the primary Weber wins endorsement two weeks from now will be on the November general election ballot. There's a lot at stake here and we have not had Open seat for governor since 1982 and Arne Carlson serve a couple of terms and has chosen not to seek re-election this year. It's wide open as to who the next governor of Minnesota will be. The first will be broadcasting right on through tomorrow when the delegates are expected to make a decision. You heard Mike Freeman's absolute earlier the shower that the everybody would get too long night sleep tomorrow night, which means that he expects at least some decision will be made at least by tomorrow afternoon were expecting a whole another couple of minutes to be joined here at our broadcast location by attorney general. Skip Humphrey who along with me to mr. Freeman is the other leading Contender for the for the dfl endorsement now besides endorsing candidates, the delegates are also trying to draft a party platform a statement of principles that Look at it. You could say well this is what the Democrats stand for. This is what the Democrats believe Karen Louise booth has been looking over some of the platform resolutions and joins us now from the floor of the convention to carry, you know throughout the morning with use two terms. Like what does the party stand for do candidates stay on message with regard to what this party stands for if you want to know what the party stands for as you pick up the ongoing platform for 1996 and 1997. It's a 30-page working document and it covers a number of issues ranging from agriculture business civil and human rights education labor and employment tax and budget policy and something that doesn't get talked about or discussed a reported on very often in state politics. And that is a position on world affairs. What's interesting is that once again, the party platform would recommend ratification to Un convention on the rights of the child something United States has not yet done other issues that are highlighted support for public financing of Elections as well as a ban on gifts from lobbyists to elected officials the party people here if they adopt the platform as written remain committed to a foreign policy that supports human rights advocating a progressive tax structure with minimal Reliance on sales and excise taxes, they support strong environmental and energy conservation programs, including renewable energy energy conservation recycling supporting the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively supporting strong law enforcement policies combined with vigorous crime prevention programs that emphasize education treatment and Rehab something. Both of Humphrey is attorney general in Mike Freeman as Hennepin County attorney have have used as one of the cornerstones of their campaigns It's actually an interesting read Gary. I don't know if you'll have time later. But I suggest you take it home and and give it a read it the devil's in the details, but there's a lot of information here that built upon legislative policy and issues when delegates consider endorsing a candidate. Yes indeed party of the delegates of course will be at the big reception is being thrown by all the all the candidates tonight, but I know I'll be reading that platform this evening late into the night platforms at all. Seriously I or is it just something to kind of mollify and get the delegates happy? It's important to have someone on the campaign read it so that you can disassociate yourself from any of the really sort of killer platform planks some something for instance two years ago with the senator Welch. Keith came into a convention and had to convince the delegates that yes. He's a true liberal but on the other hand he was not going to fight the Defense of Marriage Act didn't the United States Senate. He was not going to be a supporter of same-sex marriage and that that differed with the dfl platform planking and delegates. You know, I made an adjustment Sidwell Paul you're you're someone we really like and you're really wrong on this issue, but we're going to do or see you at if we want you in the US Senate. So it's something the party people take seriously and candidates do because they don't want to get stuck having to abide by something scanned and they will state their disagreement with the party 5.5. Mm. Normally that's sufficient for the delegate important statement of philosophical purpose and direction for each party, but actually, I don't think Ever heard legislators on the floor of the Minnesota Legislature referred to the Democratic or republican platform playing in supporting or not supporting any particular piece of legislation. So it's questionable how much affected has long-range should the candidates and elected officials? Adhere closely to a party platform. Should we move more, more and more to that system? Where are you can pretty well predict representative actions going to vote based on what his or her party says on that issue. I would be very Because it would represent true Grassroots democracy as the platform is put together through a series of resolution starting at the caucus level and then rolling on up for the various Senate District Congressional District Conventions to the State Convention. The truly does represent the voice of the people at the most Grassroots level. So if that document had more influence over the candidates, it would represent a more or two more truly Democratic perspective small D Democratic. I think the platform is is a place to look and act as a barometer run on some issues if the Party Works to change its position that something Allen elected official might want to take note up. It's also a place that once in awhile where there's a good idea if it comes through and I've seen legislatures have some respect when people start passing a lot of resolutions around the state we're going to be up that Republican. And then I'll tell you when people in the Republican caucus has started speaking out against the profiles and learning and that that was a big part of Alan quests campaign endorsement contest. It was a lot of attention paid by by legislators, and I think you need to have a place where average citizens can make themselves heard, you know, the whole world can't just exist on the editorial page of the Star Tribune. Allen Quist focus on education throughout his campaign so far has made a difference in terms of the overall public debate on that topic coverage of the dfl State Convention coming to you here as part of our midday broadcast kicking off a weekend of coverage that you can hear here on Minnesota Public Radio. The convention delegates are going to start the endorsement process here or are scheduled to momentarily not for governor though. This is for the other some of the other state constitutional Law Offices. These are offices that will appear on your November general election ballot and among others were going to have eye is on my believe. They're going to start the endorsement process for state auditor and for State Treasurer Nancy Larson and Don mole or contesting the Auditors endorsement former senator. 4 years ago and went on to the primary defeated the endorsed candidate but then lost in the general election state treasurer's office. There are four candidates the interesting thing or probably about the state treasurer's erase is what the state treasurer. Whoever he or she ends up being what they do cuz there's also going to be a measure on the ballot for November general election ballot with you change the Constitution to abolish the office of State Treasurer as I understand it to Bob and Sarah the amendment wouldn't kick in for 4 years. So whoever gets elected this year would be able to finish out the term but you suppose they would just fall on their sword and resign as soon as they are elected going to clean things up, or are they going to serve the full four-year term? So I would expect anyone that ran to serve the full four-year term it would. Would you rather self-defeating to resign immediately is there much interest do you suppose among the delegates in these lower-level offices or is this just party business again to get it taken care of and let's get onto the main event, but these offices and the state constitution law offices are an exceptional matter of importance for these delegates the candidates. If not visited their homes at least been regular telephone partners with each of the delegate. They have gone to their local convention. They've they've laid out their their reasons and the people who are constitutional officers for sort of looked at maybe an in baseball terms has a farm to you as a place where people can get some experience in be tested in campaigns in an elective office. They can make an important contribution certainly mark Satan as a state auditor, I mean his his conduct of that office was exceptional the the person who preceded him Arne Carlson managed to build it into being Governor. We're going to break for some news headlines now and station identification and that will be back with our two of our special midday broadcast here from the National Hockey Center room to be talking with the attorney general. Skip Humphrey will be joined by all four of our political analyst and we'll be opening the phone lines so you can join our coverage and our conversation Jacob. on the next all things considered the lifestyle and fashion of the great hambino the pig the official mascot at the Saint Paul Saints All Things Considered begins at 3 on Minnesota Public Radio know FM 91.1 Listen to Minnesota Public Radio. Prima partly cloudy sky 59° at 10 o w FM 91.1 Minneapolis. And st. Paul should be cloudy to partly cloudy all afternoon temperature high could reach the low 60s party tonight with a high Idle No More Night low 42 morning live radio. body tomorrow with a hymen