Mpls Star-Tribune: More than 50,000 attended DFL caucuses

[Lauren2882]

I'm putting this here instead of LBN because it's not really "late-breaking" but from what I saw and what I heard the turnout in Minnesota last night really was phenomenal. I think this article that I read today captured that sentiment well:

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/4641120.html

"DFL leaders said the big story was a turnout fed by anti-Bush fervor. It exceeded their wildest expectations, with perhaps as many as 50,000 people showing up for neighborhood precinct meetings.

DFL Party Chairman Mike Erlandson said he believed it would be the highest participation since the Vietnam War."

...

"But the caucuses at Lynhurst Park in Minneapolis produced 230 attendees, up from 30 in 2002, said DFL activist Jim Parsons, who convened the group then. Erlandson in the last few days had been predicting that total turnout would reach 20,000 to 25,000, double the estimated 12,000 who showed up in 2000 and 2002.

At University Lutheran Church of Hope in Dinkytown, the count was 101, compared to 12 in 2000. State Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, said the turnout was larger in every precinct she attended than at any time since the 1960s."

[EXE619K]

1. In our precinct....

2000: A little over 200

Yesterday: 600+

And I live in a GOP dominated region.

[Eric J in MN]

2. I voted for Kucinich last night (nt)

nt

[Lauren2882]

3. You and many others

That, and the turnout factor, makes it impossible for me to believe that Bush stands a chance here in Nov.

[EXE619K]

4. Our state is definately not a "Lock".

I don't know where you guys reside, but, to ignore MN as a safe state is a mistake.

The nominee should concentrate on the midwest.

No use trying to pick off a southern state or two....

While this area is clearly in jeopardy.

[Lauren2882]

5. You're right, not a "lock"

Yeah, I might have given the wrong impression when I said I thought Bush didn't "stand a chance." I do agree that there's gonna be a fight here, and a vicious one -- this isn't Massachusetts, in other words -- but (and call me crazy) I'm totally confident that we're going to win this fight.