While the blogosphere pulsed with speculation and gossip about John McCain’s gimmicky VP pick Friday, Barack Obama’s national campaign blog sported this image from the Iron Range’s most iconic bar at the top. I declare that the first campaign to show the inside of Tom and Jerry’s on its national website will win the Range. And Minnesota. And the election. But hey, I’m just a bro with a blog.

Legendary Iron Range newspaper editor and civic pioneer Veda Ponikvar addresses the crowd. Veda ran the Chisholm paper long before the Feminist Movement, and can hold her own. No Range candidate wins without her blessing. At left is House Majority Leader Rep. Tony Sertich.

Former State Rep. Joe Begich, uncle of Alaska’s next U.S. Senator Mark Begich, reminds the Range of the importance of this election. If Joe and Veda are on board, we don’t have to worry about the DFL base in this 70/30 DFL area.