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DFL negotiates with Rochester for state convention:

For the second election cycle in a row, the city of Rochester appears to be in line to play host to one, if not two, state political conventions.

On Sunday, the state DFL executive committee authorized party leaders to negotiate a contract with the city as the host site of the 2008 Minnesota DFL Convention, which will run from June 6 to 8. The state DFL held its convention in Rochester last year.

Local officials say the city's selection reaffirms its status as a political bellwether. While the Rochester area moved firmly in the Democratic column in last year's state elections after decades of Republican dominion, leaders from both state parties see the area as having the potential to swing in either a Democratic or Republican direction in 2008.

The state Republican party has yet to name its site for the state GOP convention, but a party spokesman said Rochester was in the running.

"It's kind of a hotbed for politics right now," said Brad Jones, executive director of the Rochester Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Both parties see that they can win here, if they pay a little attention to us. Politically, it makes sense."

Fortunately, we're perfectly positioned to cover all the action with our in-house political uber-wonk JB Doubtless already strategically situated in Rochester.