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Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar Officially Announces That She Will Run For President

Posted at 3:39 PM, Feb 10, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-10 15:39:21-05

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Latest on Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. (all times local):

2:40 p.m.

Add one more name to the growing list of Democrats who want to be president in 2020. Amy Klobuchar (KLOH’-buh-shar), a three-term senator from Minnesota, made the announcement Sunday in Minneapolis. She’s the most prominent Midwesterner in the race so far. Her party is trying to win back voters in a region that help put Donald Trump in the White House in 2016.

Klobuchar has drawn support from voters in urban, suburban and rural areas, including in dozens of counties Trump won in 2016.

She has said that success could translate to other Midwestern states such as Michigan and Wisconsin, reliably Democratic in presidential races for decades until Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton.

The list of Democrats already in the race features several better-known senators with the ability to raise huge amounts of money. They include Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kamala Harris of California, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.

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1:30 p.m.

It’s a festive atmosphere on a cold and snowy day in Minneapolis as an exuberant crowd has gathered at a park along the Mississippi River waterfront for what’s expected to be Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s announcement that she’s running for president.

The Minnesota Democrat plans to address a growing crowd at Boom Island Park, with the city’s skyline in the background, for her campaign kickoff Sunday afternoon.

The temperature is in the teens and many in the crowd look as though they’re dressed for skiing. Campaign volunteers are passing out hand warmers along with American flags.

Klobuchar supporters are gathered around heat lamps and bonfires as they wait for the senator to speak. The campaign has provided cookies and 100 gallons each of hot chocolate and apple cider.

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8:35 a.m.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar (KLOH’-buh-shar) of Minnesota is set to join the 2020 presidential race later Sunday.

She would become the most prominent Midwestern candidate as her party tries to win back voters in a region that helped put Donald Trump in the White House.

The three-term senator is set to discuss her plans at an afternoon event in Minneapolis.

In remarks released before that event, she says: “‘I’m asking you to join us on this campaign.” She’s citing the need to “heal the heart of our democracy and renew our commitment to the common good.”

Klobuchar is pointing to her record of working with Republicans, and says the country is tired of what she calls “the shutdowns and the putdowns, the gridlock and the grandstanding.”

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6:10 a.m.

Democrats are trying to win back voters in the Midwest, a region that helped put Donald Trump in the White House, and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (KLOH’-buh-shar) is portraying herself as someone who can do just that.

She’ set to join the 2020 presidential race on Sunday, becoming the most prominent Midwestern candidate.

Klobuchar has cited her broad appeal across Minnesota as she has discussed a potential campaign. She has drawn support from voters in urban, suburban and rural areas, including in dozens of counties Trump won in 2016.

She has said that success could translate to other Midwestern states such as Michigan and Wisconsin, reliably Democratic in presidential races for decades until Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton.

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)