I think Minnesota is going to still maintain its "Swing State" status in 2008, judging by the latest news to come out of the Twin Cities.
The Twin Cities (specifically Minneapolis) have been declared a finalist to host the 2008 conventions of both the Democratic and Republican Parties.
More below.
The
article only mentions Minneapolis, but both mayors were at the news conferece.
At a splashy news conference from an outdoor area high up on the Guthrie Theater's new Mississippi Riverfront home, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak announced the city had made the cut.
The Democratic finalists are Denver, Minneapolis, New Orleans, and New York. The scout team will be in town June 26-28 to evaluate its suitability. No word in the article on the other Republican finalists. Those people will be in town in early August to befoul the state.
Area businesses are probably drooling and/or experiencing wet dreams with this news, though.
Either convention would fill nearly all the hotel rooms in the entire Twin Cities area and have an economic impact of an estimated $150 million, as the 2004 Democratic National Convention did in Boston.
And to the DNC, if you decide on our state...
MAKE THE WHOLE DAMN STATE A FREE SPEECH ZONE!!!!
To the Republicans...Why not try Madison, WI?