It is 6 minutes now past 12:00 and walking back to the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. I'm Gary Yankton joined by our cast of thousands covering this Republican State Convention underway here at the Target Center. Today is the big day. If you're just tuning in today is the day that these delegates 2215 delegates from all around the state of Minnesota the day they will decide who they're going to endorse for governor who their support for governor and the amazing thing about this convention. Is that presumably this is it all the candidates have signed a promise which says that they will abide by the delegates decision. Nobody according to this promise will be challenged in the September primaries or whoever is selected today this afternoon or tonight or maybe tomorrow morning.Party's nominee. We're back by the garage in several. The candidates talked about the paper were both the common events in campaigns had pickups back. There aren't there unloading boxes from Kinkos? So I guess at least let dropping today. If you'd like to join our conversation with our political analysts. Give us a call Twin City area number is 227-6002 276 thousand outside the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828. I know some of you been on the line for quite a while thank you for your patience will get to those calls get to you in just a moment here. But let's check in very quickly with the three reporters here who are tracking the campaign's first of all, let's see Karen Louise Booth. What what's going on with the Benson campaign hugs she comes out and she shakes the hands and thank the volunteers many of people who have been coming onto the floor with boxes of Joanne Benson signs and other things that they're going to have delegates. Hold up and wave.Look for her speech. I asked her if you know what what are some themes that we can expect from from her today when she does address the delegates. She will talk about tax issues. She'll talk about education. She'll talk about crime prevention policies asked her about how was she appealed to delegates has the most electable of Voters and she said that she's been there and she's done that and she can do it another just quick highlights. She's going to profile Minnesota Heroes and she will thank and profile very briefly people that have overcome. What were seemingly insurmountable odds on a Palm Aire Norm. Coleman will be nominated first American constant latest from the Coleman campaign a dry run just a moment ago. He was providing a big pep talk to his his campaign workers and his delegates in the restaurant at the norm Coleman. The campaign is commandeered over here. There's this restaurant is part of the Target Center. They that's pretty much Coleman territory was packed with the cold.Supporters and the smattering the handful of Dick Burrell delegates who who used to support the ground where they are now to throwing their support for Coleman his theme which he was practicing there for the delegates as he's the man who has rediscovered his political allegiances. He's a prodigal son. Come home. Either former gflr is now the the heart and soul Republican and and they just left it in there will be the final candidate to be put in nomination before the convention March sat act. Like the latest on the quest campaign on the podium. He says he's going to introduce some new kind of flank or he's going to talk about if he were Governor he fight judicial activism. That would be one of the fourth thing that he's kind of talking about. He's it against to my education programs profiles in learning. He's against the marriage tax penalty. He's against to the attorney fees for the tobacco settlement and now he's going to launch this next plank. What kind of saysSet that he's a governor. He'll fight judicial activism despite what all the experts at the table that are saying is very confident that he has a lot of support here via is working the delegates like the other candidates talking to them. He says so he's really not trying to pressure anybody too much. He's very confident that if they know who he is what he is what he stands for that they'll support him as for his bomb in the primary election for years ago concerning Carlson after he left the convention endorsed candidate some of the delegates who support him now and who supported them see him then then rather say that at that time it was a completely different set of circumstances being a sitting Governor challenging and arts candidate. So his supporters are still there and theirSounding like they're going to stick with him the experts here at the table Republican Sarah. Janecek and Tom Horner the home team visitors here by Meek and Sarah stage DF ehlers. They have joined us here at the table to take your questions and share their thoughts and Analysis through the balloting process. So we hope you'll be able to give us a call now and to stay tuned as we find out just exactly who these delegates will endorse again, put City area number to 276 thousand out side the Twin Cities one. 800-242-2828 Jim your question. Please clear to me that Sherman Cooper seems to be supporting Coleman and I'd like to know who he supports and if him supporting anyone candidate is fair to the other two and aren't party leader supposed to kind of stay out of it.Absolutely. Party leaders is supposed to stay out of it. And Bill Cooper is staying out of it. He used to bend over backwards to be neutral in the entire contest. You know, I think we didn't and I know the dfl has faced the same kind of issue Republicans faced it for years ago when then party chair Chris georgicus was accused of tilting forward one candidate it it's part of the intensity that builds around this process particularly. When is we've been reiterating. There's so much on the line at this convention today follow up on that part of the deal is so much better than the Democrats are not going to have this terrible divisive primary seems to me that this could get pretty nasty here in. We pretty divisive in and of itself when does seem like it could particularly given the fact that there was so much would 2 / Asian pre-convention between the candidates and that was continuing all up until this convention and is undoubtedly,Doing between delegates right now. The question is even up and assuming that they did they are able to unite behind one and doors Canada. Will they truly be able to get over the high level of emotionalism that has been raging between candidates? For example, Benson being called a Marxist or near Marxist? So on and so forth that by the Coleman campaign and vice-versa, there's just been quite a lot of that kind of butter is heavily charged rhetoric. I agree with you guys were friends that supported mackesy and some it support of ice with it and speak to each other for 2 years. But this there's so much incentive given the 6-way primary for people to kiss and make-up when this is all over. However, it'll be interesting to see what happens in terms of leafleting the delegates question a place.Aerie Aerie were released or came out in the cities and she was working hand-in-hand with the teacher and went in to read the kids and she emphasized on how that do not cost the taxpayers any money and how it did not create any bureaucracy. And I and also one of her supporters made a comment on how they she believes in local control for school district. Well, the the current profile is learning Fiasco that's being crammed down local school districts throat is one of the biggest bureaucratic money wasted bandwagon that I've ever seen in education and it nearly completely stripped local control for school districts as far as what is taught how it is. Arne Carlson has been in my opinion the Antichrist and education for Minnesota. And unless she turns out to be his Judith, which I don't it doesn't appear that she is I don't believe she has the back of the Minnesota teachers likeBelieve she was strategically trying to portray and I think Alan Quest is is much better and we are more in his camp and then it hers. I just want your listeners to take the bait on that one. Time you raised a good point of all the three I have to say that a liquid has the most fleshed-out education proposal. However in the calculus of factors that Norm Coleman had to consider when choosing a running mate certainly Genesis leadership on education was one of them his lieutenant governor candidate Jen was the leader in the state senate for things like the biology the Board of Education those kinds of a nation has become the centerpiece issue of both Republicans and the Democrats this season in Des Peaks to the concerns that in fact many voters have about education on the other hand. I think that this is an issue that will be somewhat difficult for Republicans to take away from dfl. As this is a traditional dfl issue and vouchers and Sport for private schools is not exactly a can of a Grassroots position that Republicans will be able to win votes on the public schools. Right, I think unfortunately candidates in both parties though as they've let the fire around the issue of Education have brought a lot more heat than light to the the issues with profile to in learning being a prime example. I mean, there are a lot of legitimate concerns about the that the profile particularly to the extent of whether or not they said a sealing rather than a floor are they do they discourage high school students from taking Advanced courses, but but we have to engage in a realistic discussion around that Brian's on the line with a question for our analysts. Go ahead sir. It's not so much a question. It's I guess it is a question, but it's more of a comment. I am very disturbed by the Republican Party in the state. I look at them Minnesota. I moved here four years ago. I thought it was a very Progressive very, you know, open kind of state and I moved here and I've learned all kinds of strange things. You know it you just sent me that I'm so disappointed. I'm a I'm a conservative person but I'm liberal as well and I just saw her to why the Republican party is to become evil mean-spirited group. They demonized minorities. They use it to their advantage. They're very intolerant and I realize the person born again Christian, you know kind of right-wing side, but if that's what I grew up in and I rejected that her thanks for joining us. Why have you become mean-spirited the evolve? well The first of all, I don't think I am and I don't think the party is it's very common to accuse your opponents of being mean-spirited simply because they have a difference of opinion with you. I think the Republican party is very inclusive and some people have a heartfelt opinions. But you know, we invite everybody to join the party is the convention no shaping up here as far as you can tell. Is there a is there a Is everybody on the same page here or are we going to have a nasty a pleasant battle and a ski battle? What are you expecting here? You never can tell but I think it's going to be very hard-fought and it's going to be a very aggressive but I don't expect a nasty campaign kinds of things that she in the past. I think it's going to be fought on the issues in the policies and people's position on OST. What are you hearing Sarah? Is there a lot of Shifting and terms of delegates? Well, maybe I'll go with this candidate versus that cannot I'm I'm locked in here. I don't really pay a lot of attention to that because everybody spins and everybody wants to downplay their where they currently are. So whatever happens it looks like just a little while ago. So what we know at least But you know, it's very difficult to tell and I think the first couple of ballots will tell how it's going to happen to the only thing I will very clearly predicted that we will have an endorsement. What are you looking for on those first couple of ballots? You said that that will give us a clue here. What what how should we interpret the results from those first few ballot if someone is clearly ahead with a with a pretty good margin, then you'll see some quick shifting if it's kind of divided up three ways, then it has to be a long night. Well, thank you, sir. And good luck. Thank you. Appreciate it a party chair Bill Cooper joining us here at our broadcast table raises the issue that they often hear that. The Republican party is intolerant and narrow-minded. You always hear the Democrats accused of being kind of goofy and Flaky. Why did why do we keep hearing that criticized because I think this process that we had with the caucuses in the conventions can emphasize the extreme and let me say it's a word about Bill Cooper his his strongest efforts in and what Legacy he has is trying to make this a more moderate a a more inclusive party. In fact instead of one that simply dismissed an incumbent governor of hiiraan party seeking re-election. Turn 4 years in favor of the caucus system in and now they're hoping we endorse a candidate and course Republicans are tended to be at odds with the start of being over the years. I think Cooper deserves credit for having brought back the economic interests of Minnesota Republicans into the convention processed. Maybe it's not going to be enough to put Norm Coleman over-the-top. We'll have to wait and see but clearly without Cooper's work. I don't think there would be a viable Norm Coleman candidacy on the floor here going back to an earlier College, I'm not accusing Cooper in any way of being a partisan for Coleman, but but he has helped with Ben Weber and others reshape a party wouldn't even look at a republican incumbent governor for for endorsement before and now at least a big city former Democratic mayor. Was elected long before it was remotely a possibility that Norm Coleman was going to become a Republican and he campaigned on restoring fiscal responsibility to the party and it's no secret the party's been in trouble by the credit for let me in because he was party chair at the time but Cooper clearly campaign and I actually pulled that literature out the Cooper literature when he was running for party chair. He wanted to bring the party of fiscal Prosperity as well as to endorse and make the process matter again, and he deserves a lot of credit for doing that clearly we have issues in both parties may think part of the problem is that we as a society get the politics that we deserve when the dfl party turns its back on Hubert Humphrey. The third probably has been endorsed by that convention more times than his father and and goes to a person almost exclusively because he says I love you and and I'll abide by your endorsement. I think those raised that raises the same kinds of issues Bob that you're You're attributing to the Republican Party. The fact is both parties are are forcing candidates to become more extreme to to become more vitriolic and campaign because that's how you get the Public's attention. If if the public would engage themselves. We were talking a little bit ago around about profiles and learning of unlearning that if people would take the time to truly understand what what that was. What up, man what I meant for public education. I think we would have an entirely different kind of discussion around the no no, no not as an extremist butt butt indoors largely because he said I will abide by your endorsement rather than I agree with with all of your issues or I'm the most delectable candidates currently a part of the reason that Mike Freeman was indoors, but another very significant part of why he was endorsed is that a majority of the delegates in that convention believed him to be the most delectable candidate. And he certainly has come a long long way in terms of his ability to campaign to speak. He's develop some very sophisticated positions on public policy issues and simply a lot of delegates at that in the majority of delegates at that convention rallied around him for those reasons at 12:30 just about that needs a nominating process that is in about 5 minutes or so. It probably won't run a little later than that. I'm guessing maybe 10 minutes from now. We'll actually get started. We're going to hear from all of the candidates. All three candidates will hear from their supporters will have the demonstrations in the rest of the order of speaking of Norm. Coleman will be nominated first and Joanne Benson then Allen Martin Koski standing by right now with a delegate who I understand is supporting Norm Coleman, right? Yes Gary, this is Hibbing Hibbing Minnesota from the Iron Range in the area that Play as everyone knows very dfl. And it is Union oriented and and yet Dan believe that Norm Coleman has something to offer and perhaps might have some legs up there. If you look at Norma's come from he took a sample we turned around. He just started the Democratic and Republican. I can go back and look at where around Reagan started you start out as a Democrat changed over the reason for his election as Governor. If you look at the value of the range, very fiscal conservative Church orientated and when you look at that, it makes you wonder Where the boats are coming from and yet they do Vote dfl or they have in the past. Is there anything you've seen Pops in your delegation? Obviously do the Republicans coming down here. But is there a tendency that if we're going to vote for Republican perhaps one is better than the other. There are the three different camps and they are very well set, does have a leading delegates from the looks of it. But we will see you after the first round of bullets. How are things looking out and where we go from there? Will pro-life pro-life issue the abortion issue decided if there's a Humphrey vs. Coleman on the Iron Range will that perhaps turn some boat away from the dfl. The problem is people on the Range 10 devote all their parents and when you look at it, it's been a pro-life area from the start and it hasn't affected it before weather. That is when I get my message out whether or not showing what we stand for the people on when I get a message through right left and Alina Ray Coleman delegate from hitting Minnesota back to Gary Marx. It act like his with the quest delegates. And if your Aunt Louise Booth is following the Benson campaign and they will keep you posted throughout the balloting process is the as the convention shifts this way that way predictions as to how long this process will take of ranged all the way from 23 ballots to Tomorrow not endorsing to 3 in the morning last time. We had a contested endorsement kind of tend not to watch the clock back to the phones path. I think is still with us Pat. Thank you for being so patient your question, please. yes, I've been curious as to why people do not look at Coleman and say This is a person a politician finally who has the courage of his convictions to make a change when the party that he was a member of wasn't the same party that he joined and have the courage to to make a change when it was better aligned with his philosophy knowing that he was going to take a bunch of flak. I was okay. Thanks for the call. Why is Norm Coleman conversion or change scene almost exclusively as a negative as opposed to a positive statement of principle and Pat. You should know that among some delegates here that fact resonates. Yeah, welcome in we're glad to have you put in politics. I think one thing that is very important to voters is that they understand what the candidate stands for in Belize in in end end what convictions Important drive that Canada and therefore will shape the decisions of the candidate will make should he or she become elected him and Norm Coleman's problem is that he's a left such a mixed Legacy over his lifetime so that we don't know if we're looking at the the old can a long-haired free love drug using that are or is this the new Coleman who has short hair and supports a business development downtown St. Paul who is the policy choices is he would have if he was a republican revitalizing downtown st. Paul but most significantly challenging a public Union contract taking on all-powerful asked me which has been very popular with folks here or protesting drug smoking was the criteria where the criteria I don't think we have Bill Clinton as president. Fact is that I think Norm Coleman makes a legitimate point that it is not he who has changed. It is the party who has that has changed and end the best evidence of that is denomination of John are voters do not like flip-floppers million of that. It's from public sources. They even called him a tax-and-spend conservative. Isn't that an oxymoron? Coleman is mayor who wanted to create some kind of development in Saint Paul on which he could then mount a campaign to be Governor. He has successfully done that the truth is sometimes when you read the articles like the recent one about the loss and building not being able to complete itself in the manner in which it was planned. But when you look at the purse, Person per taxpayer indebtedness in the city of st. Paul. You see that Hofstra University liberal a Democrat and and this is is why I think when Democrats look at Norm Coleman, they know that he could just as easily lose this contest as a Republican and come back yet reincarnated as some kind of a Democrat running for the senate in The Next Century. Just just quickly at 9. Public spending for capital projects. We have to remember that to the legislature signs off on bonding to listen to legislators controlled by democrats and they approved the deal for the hockey arena and some other things that have happened in St. Paul. And you know last year we had $1000000 in the fact yes to that. Look at public dollars are the the fuel that fired the economic development engines in big cities these days the issue is has Coleman applies appropriately. And effectively and absolutely yes, he has him and he he spent less than George Latimer did and gotten a heck of a lot more for it. That's the measure by which you ought to be evaluated. I think Sharon bober doing a good job of carrying the message that I'm Norm. Coleman is a flip-flopper it back. He's been consistent. It is the the politics around him that have flip-flopped. We are broadcasting live from the Republican party convention. Our analysts are with us Republicans Tom Horner and Sarah. Janecek Democrats are Estates and Bob meet. We're getting ready now for the start of the the highlight of this convention namely the nomination process for governor. Three candidates will be placed before the convention so that the delegates can decide which of those three which one of those three will be there Canada Norm Coleman will be nominated first then lieutenant governor Joanne Benson and then Former state representative Allen Quist who has endorsed by this party in 1994. He went on to the primary got eight badly by sitting Governor Arne Carlson, but presumably that won't happen this year. Whatever is endorsed here will not be challenged in the September primaries. At least. That's the that's the idea all three of the candidate sign. I promised yesterday saying that they would stay out of it. Now the delegates are getting ready to hang around getting into their seats Karen Louise booth has been looking over some of the materials that await the delegates as they come back from lunch. And what have you found Karen will Gary I'm sitting in a delegates chair he or she hasn't come back to claim it yet and kick me out, but they are filling up the hall and they're returning after having a been satiated buy a good lunch one would hope they're carrying pom poms. More of them are carrying signs, but the convention floor looks very different because each chair now has been in cased with a rapper with Joanne Benson on the back of the chair. So every single chair in the on the floor has a Joanne Benson sign on the back of it. Some of the literature has been informational attacks group. Some of it has been attacked literature. There's one piece of literature here that I have with Norm Coleman on it and his head is on the top of a weather vane and it says which ways are the political winds blowing and it says check the weather vane on the other side. It has Norm Coleman, but the head is placed on the body of a chameleon and it's called chameleon Coleman. So most of the attack let it sure has been against the same Paul Mayer. Also finally people are being reminded to stay until Saturday. It's not over after the endorsement for gubernatorial candidates. Its they have business to conduct tomorrow and there's a piece of literature reminding people to stay on until then so they're returning to all kinds of things and they're the energy of the place is certainly changing Gary. Tributing the Auntie Coleman literature number of people who have pointed out the antique Coleman literature to me have been wearing a Twist paraphernalia. Now, I could be drawing conclusions. But these are the people who are most interested in that one of the co-chairs of the convention Cheryl Ramsey advice that the process will begin in 5 minutes 5 minutes to countdown to liftoff. It will be interesting now anything that's distributed among the delegates should have a disclaimer which campaign it's coming from and if it doesn't that's where a chair Cooper has said that he will get up and publicly be outraged over such a piece of literature. We found out, you know, usually a week or two after these conventions are over that Nasty things were being spread around the convention floor about one candidate or the other is that happening today at this point or is this really a neat clean do well to be honest? Carry? We're sitting here shelter than the NPR Booth. I think we'd any one of us will have to take a ten-minute swing through the delegates to see if that's happening and it had not started to happen before we sat down your parents of this literature indicates that something is happening of that nature out there and I thought was pretty appalling and a pox and all their houses and I thought all three candidates really have contributed to diminishing the level of a political debate trivializing issues and end in doing so trivializing the endorsements interesting about that is at the candidates really for the most part Joanne Benson Norm Coleman and Allen Quist kind of all basically agree on the same political Flash. Hsu group, so what they were left to work with was voting records little personality issues previous lives and that's what happens when you can't distinguish between the candidates. Drive that that approach or are is it is at the CD background people like yourselves that run these campaigns that are responsible are able to put a stop to this stuff if they want to and they it is very tempting for them to stand back and take a hands-off approach and say that they have nothing to do with it and it just some loose cannon supporters. But in fact, I really think that if they wanted to stop at that they can they set the tone for their own campaigns and Bay in the end are accountable for Heather campaigns are run their reaction to the pieces that if it goes against if it causes a backlash that sort of thing is remembered and there are some wounds in party, but last 4 years Senator Dean Johnson, though, we talked about a different aspect of CD politics just that the narrowness of these convention. Sissy's has forced the Republican candidates to marginalize themselves so far. I mean, I don't think they really need a lot of hate literature going out. They take a number of heat position. And that is it just my observation. That's the former majority leader for the Republicans in the Minnesota state senate Being John swell by but nobody was more marginalized as a political candidate than John Marti who came through the whole dfl process a minute. I understand. Your perspective is a d flr to say that it's the Republicans. In fact, it is the process itself that is playing out in both parties and and it's going to continue to play out and we certainly will see you in the dfl primary between now and September 15th some very nasty attacked leveled from One D flr to another dfl ER because with an apathetic public with the public that's not paying attention during the summer. That's how you get attention. That's how you drive your narrow base of boats. And unfortunately, we constructed campaigns whether they are for partying. Norseman or for the primary or for the general election that aren't designed as much to bring voters into the process as they are to push Boulders out to get it down to those voters were going to vote for me. Now. I would be remiss as we're just presumably just a couple of minutes away. Now from the start of the process. I would bring you remiss if I didn't get you folks on record. How is it how's it going to play out? What should we be listening for as the as the nominating process goes on and who's going to come out the back end as a winner? Let's start with the Republicans are Sarah. Well, I think that Norm Coleman will be hit in the low forties and Benson and Chris will hit somewhere in the twenties and maybe we'll even be surprised by that work possibly. Joanne will come in through. Southern Coleman just rolls on model of the rod grams for Senate contest between generals and a bird Maxi 1994 and died in that one. It was slow 44 Rod grams mid-twenties for the other two and Gramps just kept increasing in aisle Party 3 campaign sir agreed it when somebody hits over 50 that person is probably going to be the endorsed candidate for Time Warner. I think that Sarah's right Norm Coleman is going to come in in the the low forties. I think Joanne Benson is going to be a little bit higher on the first ballot. I think she might even get into the 31 32% range with Ellen questing in the mid to Upper 20s. After that though. I think with support falls off dramatically and I would expect to buy 3rd ballot win. The Republican Party imposes its knock-off role that is a candidate who does not have 20% of the delegates strength then We have dropped from the the ballot. I think that will happen to Allen West. So he's going to start to negotiate very quickly, but between Joanne Benson and Norm Coleman, I think they have very very committed delegates. I think a lot of the West delegates initially at least will move over to Benson and I would fully expect that we're here for a referral on eating that we're going to earn our money today Gary Sarah stays. How do you say this playing out? I'll actually agree with Tom and Sarah and I'm I'm interested now to watch it. The delegates are coming in the number of people who are carrying Chris signs and caring been since I'm so although I do agree as I say largely with them that this will be a Coleman convention. I don't think we should underestimate the strength of either the Benson or the Quist candidate campaigns. Both of them have deep roots in this party and therefore have loyal Lowers who will stay with them for a certain length of time. It'll just it'll be interesting to see how long they stay and how has wrong that support is but I'm seeing much more visibility now from Quest and from Benson at a time when it really counts. I took the convention is about money and it's about a winner and it's it's about Norm Coleman. That's so he's going to make any deal necessary to be the endorsed candidate for the Republican party. That's what he's done over the last several months. That's what he's going to do in the next few hours and I think he will be there now in any idea how long it's going to take him to win. Having seen the new rules. I think it would be shorter rather than longer five six pallets predictions for shorter rather than longer one longer rather than shorter and one waffler. See if I can return the favor what's going on out there with the campaign's at this point. What are the what are the campaign managers in the arm Twisters doing right. Now I kind of hit on it now is the time were you need to show that you've got massive support that you're organized? And so everybody tries to out sign each other. The floor operations are in full gear and beat the whole idea here with this 20-25 minute endorsing process and the speeches is to demonstrate that you are the clear leader and inventions like this demonstration to make a difference. The delegates are looking for candidates for a well-organized would be good candidates going out into the general election who can put on a good show going to attract attention when and that's what the campaigns are doing right now is making sure that the balloons drop on time that the music goes off on time that the Lasershow does was but a laser show was supposed to do and that it's Good entertainment. It's a good show emotional situations into the extent that candidates can create an emotional momentum on the floor and visual momentum on the floor. They really do have the ability to sway voters who might be softly supporting their candidate or even undecided. It's it's a very important to send the same moment that we had at the dfl convention before it started 2 weeks ago with stents. It's exciting and then. I'll be fine as part of the convention delegates here will actually be making this decision is this going to spike a Precinct caucus attendance a couple of years from now when people say wedgie if I go I might actually have something to say rather than just going to show up as a as a set-piece on the stage level of rhetoric can be kept down during this convention such that more mainstream voters can see participation in the caucus system as an opportunity to really Exercise their Democratic rights. I really don't think that the problem is with the process at this point as much as it is with the lack of participation in the process. And so to the extent that this convention and you know others in the future will be able to show that in fact, it is open to all voters. Yes. You're right. Looks like we're ready to go Cheryl ramstad. Vice is presiding at the podium. She is the parties happening a candidate for Hennepin County attorney and she will be presiding over the nominating process. Let's snuggle up to the podium. Forward for the final credentials report. Well, we're going to have the credentials report and I can guarantee those of you listening at home that you won't want to hear the credentials report. Fairway on the question the precinct caucuses. I think the system is Dad and it deserves action by the legislature to revive it there. There are people both Republicans and Democrats who have posed ways to to give actual citizens going to Precinct caucuses some Rollie qualifying candidates to get on the ballot of prospective candidate for their party. That would be a good role. Gary we should mention that the sideshow rancid vs. Randy Johnson. Who's the Hennepin County Board chair is also co-chairing the convention. You're listening to live coverage coming to you or from the Republican State Convention broadcasting from Downtown Minneapolis. Target Center. The hall is festooned with signs and balloons Miller's mortgage signs attached to all of the all the seats everybody all the delegates many of them. Anyway have these Signs on a stick do they have an official name? In fact, there's a lot of action in the action is happening on a one-on-one basis between delegates between campaign workers for the candidates and the delegates and so on and so forth. So, this is actually a very exciting time. Although it may sound like a slow time from a listener point of view. You know what I think we should do here is take a station break while we have a break in the official action here and when we come back I'm guessing they're going to be just about ready to go. Let's break a very short look for just a moment here, and then we'll resume our live coverage from the Target Center in downtown, Minneapolis. I'm going to Benson on the next All Things Considered will have live coverage of the Republican State Convention as delegates decide who to endorse for governor. It's all things considered weekdays at 3 on Minnesota Public Radio k n o w FM 91.1. Listen to Minnesota Public Radio. We have a partly cloudy Sky now 69 degrees a camera W FM 91.1 Minneapolis. And st. Paul. There is a 30% chance for a shower or thunderstorm this afternoon High could hit the upper 70s yet today partly cloudy tonight and then partly cloudy Breezy and warmer tomorrow may be a thunderstorm tomorrow afternoon. Live coverage coming to you from the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. The delegates are mostly in their seats. Now. There is a there's a real electricity in the air here because this is a convention that will actually make a decision these delegates 2215 of them are going to be voting this afternoon on who they want to endorse for governor in our first off. They're going to hear from all three of the candidates for the candidates and their supporters will get up and go through the nominating process try to convince the delegates that they are the person to be the candidate and they're all three of the candidates have signed a promising or not going to challenge the endorsed candidate who ever wins presumably remove right to the November general election in essence. So this is this is the the big deciding Element in the Republican party's process of selecting the governor here. The gavel being pounded furiously as is the convention co-chairs try to bring some order and get the process started. We're going to hear as I said from all three of the candidates Norm Coleman will be nominated first then the lieutenant governor Joanne Benson and then Alan twist and then after the process each candidate gets 25 minutes that is supposed to include the demonstrations and all of your play day. They let that slide a little bit but each week supposed to get the 25 minutes and then the balloting begins now last night they voted for a state auditor attorney general and state treasurer and the balloting took quite a while and a half. I'm in the process they had window down and we're getting a little faster. But my best guess here is about an hour per ballad. Once they start counting. Is that right? That's my point out that this will be like a National Convention for listeners each we divided into what we call BPL use basic political organization of unit and it a leader from each BPO. You will get up and with great Fanfare say where that delegation comes down in terms of Oats Market act like it was just standing by now on the floor of the convention with one of the people who is going to be making this decision as to which candidates going to end up as a republican Party's candidate for Governor Mark Gary. It's right. I'm done on the floor with James Miller James has an allen quit sign on a stick as you were talking about and he also has a Allen quiz cap on an allen Quist button. This is his third convention while I'm West again for years ago this group and doors down question. He bombed in the primary. Why are you supporting him one more time this represents honesty and integrity which is something which is sold needed in the Political world today we have a great deal of respect for Allen. Allen is an unwavering the steaks with the issues and he has a great deal of credibility collectible. He may be electable. You are a bit in the minority isn't supported when he say he may or may not be electable and you've also told me moments ago that if things start turning you'll likely throw your support behind Norm Coleman, a lot of Quinn supporters are not interested at least remind what I can tell I'm talking to them supporting Norm Coleman because they don't think that he's earned his credentials of the Republican why Norm Coleman if Allen Quist doesn't make it through the process today. I'm checking with all enclosed at least of the first Ballad of toe and if I feel after that. Of time that I need to ship my ballot, I'll do it. As a republican what are the issues that are most important to you? You know what? We're going to back to carry I-10 right now Gary. All right, thank you march and act like we are ready to go. Now. The co-chair are the convention Cheryl Rams Head while so now I'm stuck at the process is about to begin. Let's go to the podium. Here's party chair Bill Cooper. What were here about to do here is very important. Let's show courtesy to people include the aisles and please pipe down. Thank you. This is really looks like an old-time convention hall with the signs on the stick. And I all the balloons in the and the banners what's different? Of course today as opposed to those old grainy newsreels that you see is that a lot of people are running around with the walkie talkies all the fancy Communications gear and they use it starts. There's a walkie-talkie there to quench it. Presentation will be mayor Norm Coleman each candidate with 25 minutes says the co-chair st. Paul Mayor Norm. Coleman will be going first blue and gold Coleman banners being waived. and So, let's see what we're going to have work will start with a video or we're going to start with some speeches. We were lucky at the dfl State Convention lot of the candidates have those videos that they play for the delegates, but the audio is a kind of self-explanatory. So it was like being on radio. Don't work out real. Well sometimes unfortunately, it doesn't others there's a delay as you might expect. It's kind of interesting to see who some of your listeners may have been very active in normal to see how we did the Minnesota house Steve swiggum. All right, here is house Republican leader Steve's like I'm from Kenyon who will be the first speaker on Norm Coleman Spa Fellow Republicans in the baseball game in the bottom of the night two Runners on base at the plate. Do you want the right man in the right spot Norm Coleman is the right now the right spot and the right time. This November's election will present minnesotans with two very different choices one represents the past. The other the future one way is based on the fail believe the government not to substitute for families and for personal initiative and personal responsibility. The other way believes that free individuals families and communities are the basis of the American dream. The American experiment is Thomas Jefferson. Spoke about our our choice. That is before us. Is represented by Norm Coleman the Democratic choice. Is represented by names of the past Norm Coleman represents that bright star shining future that hope for the Future Hope for our state. Hope for a party. Hope our families, you know in life. As well as in faith as well as in politics. It's not so important where you come from as where you come to. The liberal Democratic party has left the people of the state. Democrats all over the state have come to Republicans Norm Coleman has come to us. Please join me in supporting the candidate who has the record has the vision to lead Minnesota into a brighter future of Hope and home work with us to build the Republican party in Minnesota into a new majority party Norm Coleman. How is house Republican leader Steve swag on Hulu? He does want to be the majority leader anymore. Gravity Falls Youth for Christ director and I am so excited to be able to Second the nomination for known, Norm Coleman for exactly the same reason that I was when I gave ride Graham seconding speech for endorsements United States Senate. Both of them had strong conservative ideals as did their worthy fellow Republican candidates, but Rod like Norm had the best chance of defeating our common. Enemy the dfl opponent. You know, you can have the very most awesome conservative record. But if you can't beat the Democrats what good will it do? In my job and my job is at Youth for Christ when a teen turns from the wrong choices to line up on the side of Truth. We celebrate and we welcome them into the fold. We don't shun them. We don't criticize them. We embrace them and like these teams Norm turn from wrong choices to right choices. He became a Republican It's a fact that Democratic Congress make some of the most solid conservative if you don't believe me take a look at Pat Robertson and Ronald Reagan. Taking a look at what the great Shepherd taught us. Love never fails. We must go and do likewise Norm shared with me that it's hard for him to hate but it's easy for him to love is order of Love's is God family and service to others. I've come to know and believe in Norm Coleman. He is a Humboldt Enderman with a calling on his life. His heart is right and he Embraces the truth. And now let's take a closer. Look at the heart of the man Norm Coleman come. Oh, I suppose the last 15-20 years. Part and parcel of pretty much all of these conventions if I was born in Brooklyn in 1949 kids the commons new some tough times and when normal was 9 the family had to move in with Norms grandparents. No, I went to Hofstra University where he was president of his class to law school at the University of Iowa where he won a prestigious leadership award and finally to Minnesota in 1976 to work for the Attorney General's office for 17 years Norm Coleman fought crime in Minnesota as head of the Attorney General's Criminal Division. He was the state's Chief prosecutor. He led the effort to toughen laws against rape and crack cocaine use he crafted the law to toughen penalties for gang-related crime in 1993. Norm Coleman was elected mayor of st. Paul when the city was struggling with debt and loss of spirit he cut government bureaucracy and lowered taxes. He was so successful. They started calling him names like Republican and conservative dangerous things to be called in a liberal Democrat City like Saint Paul. In 1996. He turned the dfl cheers into a badge of honor and converted to the Republican party as a republican Norm. Coleman was re-elected mayor in 1997 by a huge. Margin Norm is married to Lorrie a dancer model and actress norm and Lori have four children to who live in their home in St. Paul and to who live in our hearts Norm Coleman strong respect for Life young and old and the most vulnerable reflects. His belief that we are all God's gifts Norm Coleman believes in the power of Hope and optimism. He believes in, Minnesota. What? You stayed up possibility. We live in the greatest state in the Union Minnesota is the best place. I know to raise a family grow Jaws retire and have fun. It's a great place for one reason the people if you're ever in a jam minnesotans are the only kind of neighbors to have we saw it in the floods of 97 and the tornado of 98 we sent in st. Paul with people of all kinds banded together cut government high-crime cut taxes. We created a city Without Limits now, we can grade a state a possibility. I would have created by asking the question what if rather than what is what if we permanently cut taxes what if we went back to basics in our schools. What if we put criminals Behind Bars not a single Minnesota live behind goldadors? What if we Unleash the Power inside of every Minnesotan renewal revitalization rebirth, these are all things of the heart and if you act from the hot you can do anything we can greatest state where hard work is rewarded with family is celebrated in which children grow up to be one. Please join me in helping to make Minnesota state possibility. Saint Paul, I hear it's really coming around I think there's things that are really happening there. There's a real Buzz about the crime scene is coming down quite a bit. I'm seems to me to be kind of got to get things done. I believe I can do it for Saint Paul we can do it for the whole state of, Minnesota. 1 speed Is soda made up? and now the next governor of the state of Minnesota Norm Coleman All right, that's the video. I hope it came across while on the radio in terms of the audio. Take it to resolve understandable made some sense now the Big moment for Norm Coleman when he will get up and talk to these delegates all the Coleman folks are on their feet waving their sons. Play enough that the basic Coleman colors red white and blue the little signs that most of the delegates have though our blue and gold and what's interesting about that. Is that the same colors that the quest Allen pushed and his supporters are Are waving around? Tom Horner today coordinating colors that campaigns in advance or is it to Jessica Sherlock or sheer bad luck. And what they try to do is make their campaign distinctive in every way including the colors that the typography design everything about it. Here comes the candidate along with his family. Running up the stage. I have a crowd in the background. Lights come back on. You can also hear off in the side.