DFL election party turns into a revival

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar took the stage just before 10 p.m. as the crowd swelled to hundreds.

"We are showing the country again that Minnesota knows how to vote," she said, as Dayton jumped out to an early lead.

Klobuchar listed states where it looked like Democratic Congressional candidates did well, like Connecticut, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

She made a pointed crack at Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell, a Republican tea party favorite who lost her race. O'Donnell famously raised eyebrows when she said she briefly dabbled in witchcraft.

"Thanks to the voters of Delaware, I won't be serving with a witch," Klobuchar said to cheers. "The word is the witch has melted."

Klobuchar also extended a hand to Republican colleagues in the Senate, new and old.

"Let's not just throw flames," she said, "Let's work together for the people of this country."

U.S. Sen. Al Franken took the stage and talked about improving education and paying down the debt.

"Minnesota has been slipping in its leadership position to other states in the nation," said Franken, who added that Dayton will help restore the state to greatness.

As Franken spoke, jubilant Democrats encouraged by the early poll results poured into the main banquet hall, sipping beer, wine and a rainbow of colorful cocktails.

"We need to renew our nation once again," Franken said. "It's time for those of us in the public sphere to get to work."

With that, Franken turned over the stage to a fired-up U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison.

"Did anybody go out there and find a new American and say we are going to go down together and vote?" he asked, drawing applause.

Then he asked if anybody brought an 18-year-old to the polls to vote for the first time.

"If you did that, you did a big thing to make this state great," he roared. "You worked hard, and tonight the work you did is going to pay off."

But he urged Democrats that there is much left to do.

"If we stick together, we can do this thing!" he said. "Minnesota, can we do this thing?"