20 gubernatorial candidates, one stage

The Minnesota governor's race is hot, messy and crowded. Wednesday night it was on display for all to see.

At a Twin Cities suburban forum, 20 candidates from three parties put themselves up for scrutiny and batted back a wide range of questions from moderating journalists.

It wasn't easy to pull off. A coalition of organizations had to get risers, come up with a creative format and keep very, very strict time limits.

The forum, which competed with "American Idol" for viewers and for numbers of wannabes Wednesday, was the crowded race's largest so far. It came just as candidates prepare for the first big event of the race: the statewide caucuses scheduled for Tuesday night. That political sorting out will give candidates their first glimpse of how well they've done in organizing activists to their side.

During the forum Wednesday, the candidates were asked about everything from tax policy to invasive species to home foreclosure to the aging population. Here are some highlights -- and lowlights -- from the event:

During a rapid-fire question about requiring photo identification to vote, the Democrats largely said they were against it and the Republicans were for it; the Independence Party candidates were mixed but there were some nuances.

"Just for me." Democrat Tom Rukavina

"No, and Rukavina [who is 5'3"] isn't tall enough to vote." Democrat Tom Bakk

"We have an upside-down system right now where government apparently feels it's the only entity that's allowed to grow. We have the city of Minneapolis laying off police officers and we have the city of Minneapolis giving itself a raise. It's misplaced priorities."

Republican state Rep. Tom Emmer

Response: "In the time I've been in office, Tom, state spending has gone up by 12 percent, city spending has gone up 1 percent. We paid off debt. We put more police officers on the street."

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak

"So far, basically from what I've heard here is most of these people are out of their minds. ... Look at what these people are dealing with out there. Their homes are valued half of what they were a few years ago. They're retirement funds have been devastated. Their cost of living is going up and they don't know if they are going to have a job tomorrow. ... And these people are talking about raising their taxes." Republican Phil Herwig

If the state budget is like a family budget, "We have two parents who aren't talking to each other." Independence Party candidate Tom Horner