In the wake of a widely-published press release and an article in the Star Tribune, the Minnesota chapter of Draft Obama may be getting a boost from Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. 

According to a post on DraftObama.org, Rybak will join the grassroots organization’s event on January 13th, saying he is “excited about being part of the grassroots effort in Minnesota.”

In yet another sign that political leaders are taking internet grassroots organization seriously, a post attributed to Rybak himself appeared on DraftObama.org:

Many of us were part of similar efforts in the past that gave us two great terms of Sen. Paul Wellstone.

I expect the Obama effort will have some similar style…with citizens like Paul and others coming together before there is an established political network. Only this time we are going to win!

This really is an exceptional country but it has been led for six years by the Bush-Cheney-Rove philosophy of getting 50.1percent on your side…and forget the rest, or worse. I’m in the middle of “Audacity of Hope” right now and am struck by the stark difference with Obama’s philosophy, which is to find every way possible to bring as many people togeher as possible. If we actually had a leader who believed in ALL the people, and tried to inspire as many as possible, there is no telling how many great things we could do.

Although he has not publicly expressed interest in the race, Rybak’s name has been connected to the 2008 Senate race against Republican incumbent Norm Coleman.