Independence Party Leaning Toward Bison as Mascot
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While Minnesota Democrats were choosing John Kerry and Republicans rallied for President Bush, the Independence Party (search) was talking bison — the early favorite to become the party's mascot.
"The bison is far ahead," spokeswoman Laura Knudsen (search) said on Tuesday night.
With about a third of the votes in — or roughly 200 ballots — the other finalists appeared to be the hawk and the white buffalo, all vying to become the symbol of the Independence Party.
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The rest of the votes will be mailed in and counted Friday. The eventual top three vote-getters will move on to the party's central committee convention in April.
The young party, whose best-known member is former Gov. Jesse Ventura (search), has been working to establish a lasting political identity in Minnesota. Party officials say picking a mascot will help.
The options were bison, hawk, roaring lion, moose, white buffalo, wild boar and loon.
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"The loon didn't do too well," Knudsen said.