El Tinklenberg scored a key endorsement today from Minnesota's Independence Party (IP) at their state convention in Bloomington, Minnesota.

After accepting an invitation to address the convention and answering questions from the delegates, El was endorsed by a show of hands that indicated he had gained significantly more votes from the delegates present than the 60% needed to endorse.

Former Independence Party stalwarts Dean Barkley, Peter Hutchinson and Jack Udlrich all spoke in favor of the IP endorsement after the party's chair, Craig Swaggert, suggested to the convention that they consider endorsing the Blaine DFLer.

Even though El didn't actively seek the cross-endorsement, he had made it known that he would accept it if offered. After the convention voted, El told the delegates that he was in full support of their party's values and would proudly campaign on them.

He noted that in the 2006 race the winner, Michele Bachmann, won by a mere 547 votes over the combined DFL and IP votes.

John Binkowski, the IP candidate in the 2006 race, was a delegate to the convention and also spoke in favor of the Tinklenberg endorsement.

As voters reject Michele Bachmann's do-nothing, extremist agenda, the momentum behind El Tinklenberg's candidacy continues to transcend partisan politics. A growing cross-partisan coalition in the 6th District is calling for change and a return to common-sense government.

The success of this campaign relies on your support. Help keep the momentum going: