Gov. Mark Dayton surprised longtime Capitol observers, his supporters and opponents Wednesday by inviting protesters to speak from his podium
The decision, which was without precedent according to those with long memories of the Capitol, was made on the spot, Dayton said Thursday.
"I really had no idea until I walked out there what I was walking into," he said.
Although observers later questioned whether it was safe for the governor to be packed into the room with so many people -- some of whom virulently opposed to Dayton -- the governor said that wasn't on his mind before the event.
"I was surprised that it was somehow different from the past. Nobody on my staff to my knowledge had any discussion with security before people started arriving," he said.
