Senatorial candidates Mark Kennedy, a Republican, and Democrat Amy Klobuchar, made a commitment that they will find a permanent solution to the nagging problems facing money wiring services, widely used by Somali immigrants, and that they will meet with Somalis, if elected, in 90 days.

Speaking to a crowd of about 100 Somalis who gathered at Augsburg College on a chilly Saturday afternoon, both contenders also committed that they will do everything they can to help reduce the backlog of family reunion applications at the State Department, which’s holding up thousands of Somali destitute refugees in camps in East Africa.

Four years ago, late Sen. Paul Wellstone and then challenger Norm Coleman made similar commitments in that same location.

The event was organized by Somali Action Alliance, a voter participation project. Each candidate was asked four questions and then gave a seven minute speech.

more insideWhat distinguished between Kennedy and Klobuchar is their approach to win the hearts and minds of Somalis, whose vote ascended to national prominence after helping Democrat Keith Ellison win the primary in September.

Kennedy, cognizant that most Somalis are socially conservative, said he shares the “strong family values