State Representative Keith Ellison of Minneapolis has won the Democratic endorsement for Congress in Minnesota's Fifth District. Delegates endorsed Ellison to succeed retiring Congressman Martin Sabo, who has held the seat since 1978. If elected, Ellison would be the first African American Congressman in Minnesota history. But the endorsement doesn't guarantee that he'll be DFLer on the November ballot because several Democrats say they'll run in a September primary. MPR’s Tom Scheck reports from DFL convention.
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TOM SCHECK: The Fifth District Convention opened with a crowded field, seven candidates in all, but after three ballots, most had fallen by the wayside, and the 220 delegates endorsed Ellison by unanimous acclamation. He received the endorsement after his two top opponents withdrew their names from consideration and backed him. Ellison was obviously moved by the endorsement, wiping a few tears from his eyes before he took to the podium. Once he reached the microphone, though, Ellison was energized and whipped the crowd up into a frenzy.
KEITH ELLISON: All right. Democrats.
[APPLAUSE]
Democrats, let me hear you.
TOM SCHECK: Like most of his challengers, Ellison blasted the war in Iraq and President Bush's policies. He says his campaign will focus on the peace movement, single payer health care, and reducing the nation's dependence on foreign oil. Ellison also rallied Democrats to get behind his campaign and the campaigns of other DFLers running for office.
KEITH ELLISON: We're starting to figure out that it's really got to be about all of us. We've got to unify. We've got to come together from the suburbs and the city. You got to come up together straight and gay. We've got to come together Black and white, red, yellow. We've got to come together. We've got to come together, y'all.
[APPLAUSE]
TOM SCHECK: Ellison may also be making his unity call to discourage others from running in the DFL primary. The DFL endorsement doesn't guarantee Ellison a spot on the November election ballot, and several DFLers will run against him in a September primary. One opponent may be former DFL party Chairman Mike Erlandson.
Erlandson was Congressman Martin Sabo's chief of staff. He walked into the convention with his former boss's endorsement and the intention of seeking the party endorsement. He later withdrew his name from consideration after delegates started heckling him for not promising to abide by the party endorsement.
MIKE ERLANDSON: In politics is about gut check time, and I look forward to seeing all of you in September. Thank you very much. I withdraw my name from nomination.
TOM SCHECK: Erlandson urged his supporters to stick by him, but also said he'll take a couple of days before making a final decision about whether to run in the primary. Minneapolis City Council member Paul Ostrow and Minneapolis Park Board member John Olson have already said they'll run in September, as did former state Senator Ember Reichgott Junge.
Congressman Sabo announced his retirement just two months ago, and [? Young ?] says voters need more time to consider the differences between the candidates. [? Young ?] says her experience in the legislature and her campaign for attorney general in 1998 make her the best candidate.
[? YOUNG: ?] My experience is far beyond any other candidate in this field. I also have the ability to mount a very strong primary campaign. I have run before statewide.
TOM SCHECK: Young lost her bid for attorney general when current attorney General Mike Hatch defeated her in the DFL primary. The political makeup of the Fifth District means the primary could prove more contentious than the general election. The fifth, which encompasses Minneapolis and several first ring suburbs, is considered a DFL stronghold in Minnesota. Republican Alan Fine and independence party candidate Tammy Lee are also running. Reporting from Saint Louis Park, I'm Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio news.