Gore visits MN State Fair.
Elizabeth Stawicki, 9/2/96

The Minnesota State Fair finishes this year with a political wallop--Vice President Al Gore stopped by as part of a campaign swing through the midwest. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki was at the fair and has this report:

A few minutes before Gore's motorcade pulled up near machinery hill, party supporters handed out big Red and Blue Clinton/Gore signs to the crowd. One sign ended up in the arms of a small boy who rode alone on a kiddie ride of open cockpit biplanes. Each time his turquoise airplane would circle close to the tv cameras he'd hoist the sign above his head and smile. Not to be outdone, party supporters made sure the crowd knew how to hoist the signs themselves going as far as to practice several times:

(let's try those signs one more time...put em up there...crowd yells...yeah that's lookin fantastic...thank you very much)

Gore stepped onto a makeshift stage flanked by farm tractors, bales of hay and, some high rollers in the democratic party--Attorney general Skip Humphrey; Senator Paul Wellstone; Congressmen Bruce Vento and Bill Luther and Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton. The smell of mini-donuts hung in the air while officials yelled through a bad sound system and a vice president reiterated many of the themes from the democratic convention with a spice of local flavor thrown in:

(we're seeing more jobs in the inner cities, we're seeing african american unemployment gone below double digits for the first time in 25 yrs, we're seeing the crime rate go down 4 yrs in a row...the environment is protected...america' not only better off but better...just think of it, more jobs a stronger economy and the mn vikings are undefeated!)

Gore's visit to Minnesota was part of a campaign stop through the midwest..a stop to boost support for state democrats, support for the Clinton/Gore ticket and what some observers believe...support for Gore as a presidential contender in the year 2000.

For some in the crowd, seeing Gore up close and personal was worth the wait: (i'm going to vote democratic and i never have before...)

For others...particularly these two republican supporters sporting rudy boschwitz shirts and dole/ kemp buttons...the vice preisdent's speech did not sway their votes away from the conservative right:

(

But for some as two girls who were 7 years old and 11...the vice president's visit is probably something they won't forget;

(we got to shake their hands..yeah i got to shake their hands...)

I'm ES, MPR.