Gettin' down with the DFL

A large majority of the Minnesota DFL gathered in the Mayo Civic Center's exhibit hall Saturday night to celebrate victories and potential victories.

The party, hosted by former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, featured food, drinks and entertainment.

Dayton himself -- rumored to be mulling a run for governor in 2010 -- stood at the entrance to the exhibit hall, dressed in jeans and a blue T-shirt, shaking one hand after another and beaming.

Inside, guests could drink beer or wine or soft drinks, peruse Paul Bangtson's vast collection of Minnesota political memorabilia (he was overheard telling one guest, "This is just the tip of the iceberg"), watch a magician, a juggler or a "physical comedian" and dine on Minnesota picnic fare: hamburgers, hot dogs, brats and potato salad.

Beer, wine and soft drinks flowed, hands were shaken and schmoozing took place. Guests wore everything from Birkenstocks and shorts to long skirts and jackets and ties. A few wore oddly shaped balloon hats, clearly procured from the magician inside the exhibit hall.

The convention winds down Sunday with election of delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August.