Minneapolis Police Federation endorses Mark Dayton

Mark Dayton scores another law-and-order win.

The police union hasn't thrown its weight behind a Democrat since it endorsed Rudy Perpich in the 1980s. And Dayton's promise not to cut state aid to cities and counties played a big role in the switch, federation president John Delmonico says.

A long relationship with Dayton, stretching back to his time as state auditor, and as a senator who pulled in federal grants to fight gangs, also helped turn the wheel. Plus, he's a "gun guy," Delmonico says.

It's another law-and-order win for Dayton in territory Republicans like to think of as their own. The 8,500 rank-and-file police officers in the Minnesota Police & Peace Officers Association announced their endorsement of the DFLer earlier this year.