Gov. Mark Dayton ducked out of a press conference with the Mayo Clinic the other day because he was late for a Mayo appointment of another sort -- physical therapy.

"I had a physical therapy appointment," the governor told reporters curious about his quick exit from Wednesday's high-profile unveiling of the Mayo Clinic's $6 billion plan to reinvent Rochester. The governor underwent spinal surgery at Mayo in December.

Republicans were quick to question why the governor didn't stay around to take reporter's questions on the Mayo proposal. "Why is Dayton dodging the press?" the state GOP wondered.

His back was aching from the strain of standing during a pair of legislative receptions, Dayton said, so he booked a 2 p.m. therapy session right after the 1 p.m. press conference. "I'm definitely progressing," said Dayton, who says he exercises his healing back twice a day. "