Sanders, Clinton Speak At Minnesota DFL Fundraiser
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota democrats are getting ready for the states caucus in less than three weeks.
A major fundraiser Friday night brought both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders to St. Paul River Centre. It was the annual Humphrey-Mondale dinner.
The two were in Milwaukee Thursday night for their 6th debate. The race is heating up after Sanders' victory in New Hampshire and a close call in Iowa.
"It sounds like some of you are ready for a political revolution!" Sanders told the audience.
Clinton, meanwhile, echoed an indirect attack on Sanders that she'd used in Thursday night's debate.
"I am not a single-issue candidate, and this is not a single-issue country," she said.
Both candidates hit on familiar campaign themes throughout their speeches.
"This is not an American economy, this is not a fair economy, this is a rigged economy," Sanders said.
"I am a progressive who actually likes to make progress!" Clinton said.
The event is always the biggest fundraiser of the year for Minnesota Democrats, but this year could be the biggest one yet. More than 4,000 people were in attendance, including party and local leaders. They're expecting to raise more than $1 million -- which could be a record for the DFL.
"This gives us a great shot in the arm -- a huge infusion of cash, right at the beginning of the year," Minnesota DFL Party Chair Ken Martin said. "It will allow us to start opening offices, hiring field staff, doing the work we need to put ourselves in a position to win."
Minnesota caucuses for both parties are on March 1 -- part of Super Tuesday, with 12 other states holding their own primaries and caucuses. Clinton and Sanders are both organizing heavily in the land of 10,000 lakes, with less than three weeks left until ballots are cast.
The event brought together supporters of both candidates. Most of the enthusiasm from rank-and-file party members is for Sanders, while elected officials and state leaders like Gov. Mark Dayton and both Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken have put their support behind Clinton. Sanders did earn the endorsement of Representative Keith Ellison.
Sanders also participated in a forum on race and inequality at Patrick Henry High School earlier in the evening.