Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Protesters who plan to march during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul in September got a warm-up Thursday with presidential candidate John McCain visiting the Twin Cities for two appearances.

Outside the Hilton Hotel in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday afternoon, about 100 people peacefully demonstrated during a fund raising event for John McCain. 

About a dozen more chanted outside McCain's townhall meeting at the Landmark Center in St. Paul.

But antiwar protester Meredith Aby says today's turnout will not even compare to the tens of thousands of protesters expected to march on the Republican convention. 

"The RNC is going to be huge. The September 1 demonstration is on day when nobody has to go to work, unlike today, and that we've been building for, for years, whereas his demonstration is something that was called for two weeks ago, but even trying to figure out his schedule has been very hard, even trying to figure out where to organize something at," Aby said.

About two-thirds of those assembled appeared to be anti-war protesters who want to end the war in Iraq. Union members also demonstrated calling for greater access to health insurance. 

There was a heavy police presence, but there were no arrests. 

One Republican Party official said he expected several hundred people to attend McCain's fundraiser. 

The townhall meeting was an invitation-only event for 200 undecided voters the campaign said it identified through a telephone marketing firm.

One of the protesters was Gary Struss, with the Sheetmetal Workers union, Local 10. He said a McCain administration will be a continuation of President Bush's policies. 

"I'm gonna protest Mc Bush being John McCain and his failed policies because his policies are the same as George Bush and they have failed America," Struss said.

The protests were largely peaceful. One man was arrested for trying to enter the townhall event, which was closed and guarded by security officers.

Gallery

Politics and Government News

Mark Zdechlik

Author

About 100 people peacefully demonstrated outside the Hilton Hotel in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday afternoon, during a fund raising event for John McCain. About a dozen more chanted outside McCain's townhall meeting at the Landmark Center in St. Paul.

McCain's Minnesota visit met by anti-war protesters

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