Madia tops Bonoff

Does our state contest mirror Clinton and Obama nationally?

Comments (0) By Beth Walton Wednesday, Apr 16 2008

Within months, Madia had organized a team of volunteers who strategized in the living room of his Plymouth apartment. While Bonoff worked in the Legislature on transportation and education issues, Madia turned calling delegates and fundraising into a full-time job.

"I made the decision if I was going to do this, I wanted to do this right," he says.

courtesy of Ashwin Madia

Ashwin Madia beat a more established candidate to win the DFL endorsement for the Third Congressional District

Beth Walton

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Saturday he promised voters he would maintain that same work ethic as he campaigns against Paulsen. Madia expects the campaign for the seat to cost as much as $3 million per candidate, and says he'll do what it takes to raise funds and voters' support.

"We will go door by door, neighborhood by neighborhood and city by city, to spread our vision of a new patriotism, unity, and optimism," he promised delegates.

Like Bonoff, Madia is unsure whether the comparisons to the Democratic presidential candidates are warranted. He refuses to endorse one, and says he thinks Hillary is tough and Obama is inspirational.

The 30-year-old blushes when he's compared with Obama, saying his campaign's success comes from tireless effort.

"We're proving that even in today's political world, if you have a strong message you can beat money and you can beat name recognition. You can beat endorsements," he says.

Maybe there's a little Obama in him after all.