Dayton, barred from convention two years ago, praised this year

The Democratic governor ran in a primary in 2010 and wasn't allowed on the 2010 convention floor.

By rachelsb

June 2, 2012 at 7:13PM
The 2012 Minnesota DFL State Convention is taking place Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the Mayo Civic Auditorium in Rochester, Minn. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton addressed the convention delegates Saturday morning.
The 2012 Minnesota DFL State Convention is taking place Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the Mayo Civic Auditorium in Rochester, Minn. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton addressed the convention delegates Saturday morning. (Dml - Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

This is a year of political parties welcoming those it rejected before.

Four years ago, Republicans barred Republican Ron Paul from speaking at their convention. This year, he was the GOP convention featured speaker.

Two years ago, Mark Dayton, then running for governor forswearing the DFL party's endorsement process, was barred from the DFL convention floor.

This year, he was welcomed to the convention floor with a standing ovation, after praise from speaker after speaker.

"Thank you for letting me in this year," he told DFL delegates in Rochester.

He went on to talk about the need for higher taxes on the wealthy, better education policies and better health care. He said that will only happen if he gets a DFL -controlled Legislature. Dayton boasted of his 55 vetoes of Republican bills in much the way former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty bragged on his vetoes of DFL bills.

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