Just outside Redwood Falls, ahead of schedule, the bus pulls off to the side of the road with the KSTP-TV van. Most of the bus empties to stretch their legs. The KSTP videographer shoots some video of the Governor and, inexplicably to the rest of us who stayed on the bus, two Pawlenty staff members kicking their legs to a chorus of "New York, New York." ("Is...Brian...singing?", I hear from across the aisle.)
By this time, the clouds had parted to reveal a sunny and almost warm midday. Majority Whip Rep. Marty Seifert (R-Marshall) welcomed us to the Pizza Ranch in Redwood Falls. Many families with children waited there to meet-and-greet the Governor and Lt. Governor, pose for a snapshot, and get an autographed campaign sign. I had the pleasure of sharing a pizza lunch with Lt. Governor Molnau.
Monday, 2:45 pm: New Ulm
On the way to New Ulm, I caught a few words of conversation between my naps. CNN covered the Giuliani rally. The Strib tracking poll shows a 2-point race for governor. Someone discovered that she can't send e-mail from her Blackberry, but she has four bars on her cell phone. Hatch's schedule is "not available."
More families awaited us at Veigel's Kaiserhoff in New Ulm, a German family restaurant, along with Sen. Denny Frederickson (R-New Ulm), and one other legislator whose name I missed. The Governor repeated someone's joke about chanting "four more beers" instead of "four more years."
Monday, 4:00 pm: Mankato
The KSTP video guy boarded the bus and shot some more video on the way to Mankato. Mark and Debbie Kennedy and local legislative candidates met the crowd with us in Mankato. These stops are beginning to blur: grab sign, leave bus, wave sign and chant "four more years," get back on bus, take nap, repeat. If it's 4 o'clock, this must be Mankato.
MINNESOTA POLITICS | POLITICS | MNPOLITICS | MN06
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