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Bush campaign manager fires up Minnesota Republicans
June 12, 2004

Ken Mehlman told the roughly 1,500 people gathered at the state Republican convention Saturday that Bush only lost the state by 50,000 votes last time. (MPR Photo/Michael Khoo)

St. Paul, Minn. — (AP) President Bush's campaign manager says there's good reason why Minnesota is among the states drawing national attention in the presidential political arena this year.

Ken Mehlman told the roughly 1,500 people gathered at the state Republican convention Saturday that Bush only lost the state by 50,000 votes last time.

	Gov. Tim Pawlenty

And this time, the party will put more effort into grassroots campaigning in the state.

Among the changes Minnesotans may see this year is more e-mails, more advertising, more people knocking at their doors and people approaching them in places like malls.

The convention started Friday night with a video tribute and a moment of silence for Ronald Reagan.

State party chairman Ron Eibensteiner said Reagan reminded Republicans that they should be a ray of hope for the country.

"Our party is an optimistic party today because Ronald Reagan reminded us that we are capable of offering the American people a ray of hope. ... His words stirred the soul of our nation," said state party Chairman Ron Eibensteiner.

Minnesota has voted for the Democrat candidate in every presidential election since 1972. But Al Gore carried the state by just 2.4 percentage points in 2000, and Republicans are hoping that this is the year they can close the gap. Congressman Mark Kennedy asked them to do just that during the final speech Friday evening.

	Sen. Norm Coleman

"We face a mighty battle. The outcome of that battle depends on your work."

Increasing the participation of women in politics also was a theme during the first night, which ended about a half hour ahead of schedule.

"I believe the Republican Party is becoming the party of women," state auditor Patricia Anderson said.

"Real women don't whine," she said. "We don't believe we're victims. We believe we're empowered."

Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer mentioned the Senate's ouster of state education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke. Kiffmeyer promised more conservative women were on the way.

"There are more coming," she said. "This is not the end."

To that end, House Majority Leader Erik Paulsen urged the convention goers to help House Republicans, all of whom are up for election this fall.

He asked that they give one more dollar, knock on one more door and get one more person out to vote.

"Do it to help our team across the state," he said. "Or simply do it in the memory of Ronald Reagan."

One issue that's been divisive in the past - judicial endorsements - didn't even draw much discussion. The convention voted to not endorse any of the declared candidates so far, but left the door open for the state central committee to meet after filings close later this year.

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