Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher might start tripping over each other in their DFL gubernatorial bids. Kelliher held a news conference Friday in Minneapolis City Hall (Rybak's house) to announce endorsements by Minneapolis City Council President Barb Johnson and St. Paul City Council President Kathy Lantry. The day before, Rybak took his campaign to the state Capitol (Kelliher's house) to announce an endorsement by St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. Kelliher used the news conference to take a swing at budget cuts under Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, which have hit local governments especially hard and often resulted in increased property taxes. "Pawlenty used local governments as a piggy bank when he needed revenue to balance the budget," she said in the City Hall rotunda. "He has put a huge burden on people." She then took a thinly-veiled swipe at Rybak, who has been described as inspirational, but sometimes vague on specifics and details. "We need more than a cheerleader to get the job done," Kelliher said. Kelliher was surrounded by several high-profile supporters, including former Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and former St. Paul Mayor Jim Scheibel. Kelliher and Rybak are considered the leading candidates heading into the DFL endorsing convention next week. Other candidates who have said they will abide by the party endorsement are state Sen. John Marty, state Rep. Paul Thissen and state Rep. Tom Rukavina.