DFLers ramp up efforts before primary

Get-out-the-vote efforts are in high gear this weekend for the three DFL candidates for governor.

Mark Dayton, Matt Entenza and Margaret Anderson Kelliher are seeking the DFL nomination in Tuesday's primary election. Recent polls have shown Dayton leading Kelliher, who won the party endorsement.

Kelliher said she's not concerned about the polls, and has a lot of confidence in her field operation.

"We have made over 1.6 million voter contacts," Kelliher said. "And now it's all about turning those people out to vote, and continuing to identify people who are going to be voting. So, I feel very strongly that we're in the strongest position to win with this sort of ground operation."

Entenza said he'll spend much of the remaining time reaching out to groups that most candidates usually ignore.

"Typically young people aren't asked to vote, and it's assumed that they won't show up," Entenza said. "African Americans aren't asked, and it's assumed they're not going to show up. We're doing a lot of work reaching out to those communities. I've spent more time in a lot of deep rural communities than any other candidate."

Political observers are predicting an extremely low turnout Tuesday for the state's first-ever August primary. The three DFL candidates will face off in a final debate in St. Paul to be broadcast statewide on Minnesota Public Radio News, starting at 7:00 p.m.