President Obama is coming to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis for a rally with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton on Oct. 23, according to a student group that received word of the visit.
Jeb Saelens, president of the U's Students Organizing for America, confirmed the Obama rally. He said his group, which is affiliated with Obama's national campaign arm and the Democratic National Committee, has been tasked with helping to mobilize students.
The university would not confirm that Obama was coming. "We have had discussions with event organizers and would certainly welcome the opportunity to host the president on campus," said spokeswoman Patty Mattern. "We're not, however, in a position to comment further at this time."
The White House declined comment, referring queries about the rally to the Dayton campaign, which said it could not confirm details.
It has been known for more than a month that Obama was coming to Minnesota for a private congressional fundraiser, along with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. On Saturday, the Dayton campaign announced Obama was doing a campaign event in the Twin Cities with Dayton on Oct. 23, without releasing further details.
The location of the event was first reported Monday by the Minnesota Daily, the U campus newspaper. The newspaper reported the rally would be held on the mall in front of Northrop Auditorium.
Dayton had asked Obama to campaign with him after he won the DFL primary, but the administration hadn't tipped its hand until this weekend whether the president would do a public event with Dayton. Vice President Joe Biden appeared at a rally with Dayton last week.
