DFL leaders endorse Dean, tout his knowledge of key issues [View All]

[pruner]

By Beth Hornby

Minnesota DFL leaders met at the State Capitol on Thursday to personally endorse former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean to be the Democratic candidate for the 2004 presidential race.

Dean supporters, including Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and state DFL leaders, gathered behind a podium with “The doctor is in” written across the front — a reference to Dean’s days as a practicing physician.

In order to get the full official DFL party endorsement, Dean must secure at least 71 percent of the vote in a party-wide straw poll March 2. Attendees at Thursday’s event hope their individual support can help make that happen.

State Sen. Mee Moua, DFL-St. Paul, said Dean’s inside knowledge of health care and higher education issues put him above other candidates.

<snip>

http://www.daily.umn.edu/articles/2003/10/03/6800