MINNEAPOLIS -- Sarah Palin added excitement to the Minnesota Republican convention Thursday night by endorsing Tom Emmer for governor.
"A patriotic fiscally conservative 'hockey dad' who got his start in politics by serving on his local city councils is running for governor of the great state of Minnesota," Palin wrote on her Facebook page Thursday afternoon. "His name is Tom Emmer, and I'm proud to support him."
Emmer was thrilled.
"The gold standard of grass-roots politics" is how Emmer described Palin, the former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate.
In general, GOP delegates said the conservative star's endorsement probably would not sway their decision today as they decide between Emmer and fellow state Rep. Marty Seifert.
ADVERTISEMENT
Emmer was mobbed by supporters and surrounded in the hours after Palin posted her support on Facebook. Seifert's life was quieter before the convention started.
About 2,010 delegates filed into the Minneapolis Convention Center on Thursday night to endorse other state candidates, but they left no doubt that today's governor contest is the main event.
Seifert and Emmer pledge to follow today's convention decision, unlike Democratic candidates Mark Dayton and Matt Entenza, who are challenging their DFL endorsee Margaret Anderson Kelliher.
Besides the two leaders, a trio of long-shot candidates also will be nominated today.
The Palin comment was the talk of the convention Thursday night.
Emmer and Palin held a private meeting when the former Alaska governor visited Minneapolis recently.
"Coming from a working class background, Tom is known as a straight-talker who is unafraid of taking on the challenge of reining in the size and scope of government," Palin wrote. "A proud father of seven, Tom is in this race for the right reasons - to provide bold, principled leadership that will leave Minnesota fiscally stronger for the next generation."
Democrats immediately criticized an out-of-state politician for getting involved in a Minnesota campaign.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kelliher, a self-proclaimed hockey mom, tweeted: "Lots of hockey in this race for governor! Palin endorsement a goal or checking from behind?" Emmer is a former hockey player.
Most delegates did not know of the Palin move until they arrived at the convention.
GOP Party Chairman Tony Sutton said big-name endorsements sometimes help, but sometimes they backfire. He did not know how the Facebook posting would affect the convention, with half of the delegates new to the process.
Seifert said that the Palin fuss means little. The Marshall lawmaker called himself "an underdog farm boy," like he has been in past elections.
Seifert's campaign was calling delegates from around Minnesota to convince them to make the trip to Minneapolis and offer him their support. Calling the team of Emmer and Annette Meeks an all-Twin Cities ticket, Seifert said it is vital to get rural Republicans to Minneapolis.
Emmer would not say if the Palin backing would help him, but called it "a very significant endorsement."
"I think a lot of these are Sarah Palin fans," he said of the delegates.
Regardless of who wins today, GOP officials claim the party will be united.
ADVERTISEMENT
Davis reports for Forum Communications Co.
