Klobuchar takes the stage

Earlier, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (DFL-MN) greeted delegates, and talked about how close Democrats have come to achieving real reforms in Washington. With a global warming bill narrowly defeated today (U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) missed the vote on that one, but claimed he would have voted for it), she stressed that Democrats are very close to achieving real change, and she gave shout-outs to her fellow DFL congressional representatives.

She praised Sen. Barack Obama's vision of one America, and said that she doesn't want to hear anyone in Rochester saying that Dems won't come together for the election. This brought a standing ovation from many delegates.

The new Democratic agenda in Washington had quickly borne fruit in Washington, with the first minimum wage increase in 10 years, and finally the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Paul Wellstone mental health parity bill, Klobuchar said.

Klobuchar said Americans are tired of a president who "just doesn't get it." As an example, she cited how President Bush said in recent months that "your prediction of $4 a gallon gas is interesting, I hadn't heard that." Change starts with sending Bush back to the ranch in Crawford, Texas, and sending "Cheney to an undisclosed location, permanently!"

"Ushering in a new era" would arrive when Obama raises his right hand to take the oath of office, and making a few changes to the U.S. Congress would secure that goal, she said. In Virginia, Dem Senate candidate Mark Warner is "far ahead;" in New Hampshire, New Mexico, Colorado, North Carolina, Kentucky, Alaska, and yes, Minnesota, "we'll prevail" in U.S. Senate races.

The margin Dems need is relatively small, but significant. They've been stymied this time around by an "all time record" of 72 filibusters. It'll take five more votes to negotiate lower prescription drug prices via Medicare part D and safe imports from Canada; four votes to override the stem cell veto so that people with Alzheimer's and cerebral palsy can get treatment; and three votes to get U.S. Sen. Jim Webb's (D-VA) amendment that provides service members as much time at home as they spend in service. With only one more vote, the oil companies' tax benefits could be curtailed in exchange for getting more energy produced by farmers and workers in the midwest.

Providing more dignity to veterans at home will be another top priority after the election; this election is about getting a president who does "not kowtow to pharmaceutical companies" and instead puts people first, Klobuchar concluded.