Wellstone's memorial service turned into a Democratic rally.

Clinton and Mondale during a quiet, reflective moment at the memorial service.

As Matt Drudge put it:

'Win for Paul! For Paul! For Paul'...Cheering, handshaking, speechifying, yelling, clapping, stomping, laughing and shouting -- there's never been a memorial service like it... Instead of eulogies, stemwinders. Instead of pray for his soul, get out the vote. Instead of weeping, cheering. Welcome to bigtime politics 2002, where a memorial service for a tragically killed senator becomes a raucous DNC rally. All that was missing was the balloon drop...

What is particularly galling is that the Democrats spent the whole damn weekend on the news shows screeching at the Republicans every time Wellstone or Mondale's name was mentioned, accusing them of "politicizing" Wellstone's death. Naturally, they assume their constituents will ignore, as always, the rank hypocrisy.

Just one example from CNN:

After a calm, non-partisan interview with Coleman (see link), Democratic Senator Harry Reid comes out:

REID: Judy, Mr. Coleman is campaigning and that's why he's on your program. And he may not be launching his usual missiles against we Democrats, but he had, of course, Newt Gingrich was on "Meet the Press" over the weekend, badmouthing Vice President Mondale. All the surrogates have been out recognizing that because of the death of Paul Wellstone there may be an opening there.



I'm very disappointed in what's happened since Paul's death. Not only because of the loss of a wonderful human being, but couldn't they wait until he's buried before they do their campaigning? Couldn't they have kept Newt Gingrich off television bashing Vice President Mondale until after the funeral?

WOODRUFF: Well, the Republicans say, Senator Reid, that all they're doing is that they're simply pointing out Walter Mondale's policy positions. That he chaired this commission last year that came out with a report recommending the privatization of Social Security.*

REID: But my point is couldn't they wait until Paul is in the ground and his wife and his daughter? The situation is there's time to campaign. There's been a very big campaign in Minnesota, the most negative anyplace in the country, that's been going on now for more than a year.



*Strictly true, but misleading on the part of the Republicans if they actually said this.