Amy Klobuchar 2020: She’s running for president

Feb. 10--Minnesota's self-described "senator next door" wants to move to the White House.

Amid a steady snow on the banks of the Mississippi River with the Minneapolis skyline obscured in the background, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Sunday entered the race for president in 2020.

The wintry scene was exactly what she was going for.

The snow-globe image of a hardy Midwesterner braving the "bold north" gives the three-term Democrat at least a visual distinction from the crowded field of candidates, including several women from the coasts, looking to oust President Donald Trump.

"We don't let a little snow stop us, we don't let a little cold stop us!" Klobuchar, ungloved and hatless, said shortly after being introduced by Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.

Here's the quote: "So today, on an island in the middle of the mighty Mississippi, in our nation's heartland, at a time when we must heal the heart of our democracy and renew our commitment to the common good, I stand before you as the granddaughter of an iron ore miner, the daughter of a teacher and a newspaperman, the first woman elected to the United States Senate from the State of Minnesota, to announce my candidacy for President of the United States."

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RELATED: Read excerpts from Klobuchar's speech

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MISSISSIPPI/I-35W BRIDGE IMAGERY

The location was laced with imagery she drew attention to: The Mississippi as a unifying artery of the country; the collapse of the I-35W bridge as a tragic vehicle for heroism ad resiliency; and the marked divide of American politics today.

"Let us cross the river of our divides and walk across our sturdy bridge to higher ground," she said, according to her prepared remarks.

SNOWY SUPPORTERS

Fueled by 100 gallons of hot chocolate and 100 gallons of hot cider supplied by the campaign, hundreds -- perhaps a few thousand -- came to Boom Island Park across the river from downtown Minneapolis for the event. (No official crowd estimates were available Sunday afternoon.)

Wood fires and propane heaters provided warmth as the bundled throngs awaited the announcement, snow accumulating on their hats and hoods.

Some supporters focused on Klobuchar's longstanding reputation for reaching across the aisle, while others carried clearly left-of-center messages. "Green New Deal!" read one sign, while Planned Parenthood logos could be seen as well.

Jordan Richard of Bloomington said she's a good candidate because of her moderate tendencies.

"I think she's a great bipartisan leader," Richard said. "She's got the charisma and reputation to lead the Democratic Party in the future. I think she's got the right attitude to bring people together. She's got a great track record."

The question of how moderate -- or how liberal -- Klobuchar is is a topic of debate, with Republicans attempting to characterize her as too liberal, highlighting her support for stricter gun control and abortion rights.

IMMEDIATE SCRUTINY

Despite her popularity among Minnesota voters -- she's enjoyed 20- to 35-point margins of victory -- any connections between Klobuchar and "Minnesota nice" were already under assault before Sunday's official announcement.

Former staffers, speaking under conditions of anonymity to several media outlets, and some internal campaign emails leaked during the past week have painted a picture of an overly demanding, if not verbally abusive, boss.

Minnesota Republican Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan released the following statement Sunday:

"The record shows that while Senator Amy Klobuchar represents Minnesota, she clearly doesn't fit the 'Minnesota Nice' persona. Last year, Senator Klobuchar won the award of most staff turnover and nearly every day this week a new story came out highlighting the horrors of working for our very own Minnesota Senator. From crying daily to dodging flying binders thrown by Senator Klobuchar, it is no surprise staff fled the almost abusive situation at record speed. How is a person who fails to successfully maintain her staff and run an office, supposed to successfully run a country? It seems to me a bad boss would lead to a bad leader."

"Senator Klobuchar loves her staff," her campaign has said, in part, in response.

There's little question Klobuchar has long been known among political circles to be "intense" with her staff. "Intense" is a word even her defenders use. Opinions as to how far her behavior goes -- and whether she's being held to a double-standard because she's a woman -- vary, according to those who have spoken to the Pioneer Press.

NO MENTION OF TRUMP

Klobuchar never uttered the name of Trump, although her references were hardly veiled, as railed on the tenor of politics and the current administration, saying that America's "sense of community is fracturing across our nation right now, worn down by the petty and vicious nature of our politics. We are all tired of the shutdowns and the showdowns, the gridlock and the grandstanding. ... Our nation must be governed not from chaos but from opportunity."

"Stop the fear-mongering and stop the hate," she later said in calling for immigration reform.

Chris Magan contributed.

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