President George W. Bush attended a Victory 2004 Rally at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 30, 2004.
Before the President arrived, Senator Norm Coleman held up a copy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press showing the paper's endorsement of the President for re-election. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty held up and turned upside down a large maroon and gold flag with the University's "M" which he said meant Minnesota stood for "W." Brock Lesnar also spoke and endorsed the President.
The crowd estimated at over 20,000 cheered loudly when the large video screen on the scoreboard showed the President and First Lady Laura Bush arriving on Air Force One.
Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Tice introduced President Bush and presented him with a personalized Vikings jersey with the number 1 on the back. With only days before the election President Bush thanked everyone for coming and said "We are here to ask for your vote. We are here to ask for your help."
The President closed with these words "When I campaigned across this state four years ago, I made this pledge that if I got elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for four more years. God bless. Thank you all for coming." Continuing with that theme, the closing song for the event was Ricky Martin's "The Cup of Life," which was used during the 2000 campaign.
