Minn. Democrats Hope A Visit From Clinton Will Help Poll Numbers
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Upbeat music played while Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered an upbeat message to a crowd of 2,000 at St. Paul's Macalester College Thursday.
"I'm still feeling that grandmother glow," Clinton said.
The new grandma touted Minnesota's economic recovery as a model for all states.
"Here in the Twin Cities you have the lowest unemployment rate of any metro area in the United States," she said.
Clinton credited Gov. Mark Dayton for the turnaround in his first term in St. Paul. She also praised Sen. Al Franken for his work in Washington.
Franken's race against Mike McFadden is being watched closely across the country as the senate majority is at stake.
It's the second visit from a big democratic star in two days. On Tuesday, First Lady Michelle Obama gave her support to the same two men at a rally in Minneapolis.
"Get out the vote, we cannot afford to lose this race," Obama said.
On the Iron Range Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden told voters to back Rick Nolan. The 8th District race against Stewart Mills is one of the priciest congressional races this election.
But political analyst Larry Jacobs says there's a reason we haven't seen the nation's top Democrat make a stop in Minnesota.
"President Obama is toxic, even in a blue-leaning state like Minnesota," Jacobs said.
He says Dayton and Franken are distancing themselves from the president – which made Clinton's 28 minutes on stage at Macalester that much more important to push Democrats to the polls.
Minnesota Republicans responded to Clinton's visit, calling her an example of bad leadership.
Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Keith Downey released this statement: "Hillary Clinton was the driving force of the failed Obama/Franken foreign policy agenda."