Minneapolis: The RNC Washout

Oct. 27 2008, Published 7:07 a.m. ET

Rex Sorgatz, a writer currently based in New York, was born in Minnesota. He is returning to the Twin Cities to watch his home town react to the influx of delegates, politicians, journalists, dealers, and hookers arriving for the Republican National Convention. He will be filing dispatches throughout the week.

THE SARAH PALIN OF HER DAY Moore Statue The Nordic pride—this hits you first.

Minnesotans will brag about anything. No one else would gloat about having 10,000 lakes. No one else would erect a bronze statue of Mary Tyler Moore. No one else would build the largest mall in America, and then boast about it.