ST. PAUL - It's one of the largest crowds ever for the Minnesota DFL, with over 4,000 eagerly awaiting to hear presidental candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton speak.

DFL Chair Ken Martin talks to the media before the event. (Dan DeBaun, WJON)
DFL Chair Ken Martin talks to the media before the event. (Dan DeBaun, WJON)
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Sanders and Clinton are both speaking in St. Paul for the 5th annual Minnesota DFL Humphrey-Mondale dinner at St. Paul RiverCentre. Governor Mark Dayton, Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Keith Ellison will lead off the event. Presidential speeches are expected to start at about 7:45 p.m.

It's also been a record breaking fundraising night. DFL party chair Ken Martin says over $1 million has been raised for the event.

"It's the largest event in our party history since 1944. We've also raised a record amount of money, over $1 million dollars and we hope to raise more tonight."

Each candidate is expected to speak individually while sharing the stage, as opposed to debating. Sanders and Clinton exchanged blows during a debate on Thursday night, with opposing viewpoints on foreign policy and how to approach income inequality.

Former candidate Martin O'Malley was originally expected to speak, but he dropped out of the race after a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses.

Minnesota’s political caucuses are coming up on March 1st as part of “Super Tuesday”.

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