20,000 attend Wellstone service

MINNEAPOLIS -- Some 20,000 friends of Paul Wellstone gathered to bid the late senator farewell Tuesday in a ceremony filled with music and poignant eulogies -- and nearly as much laughter as tears.

Outside the ceremony at a University of Minnesota sports arena, the famed green bus that carried the Minnesota Democrat to victory on his populist campaigns served as a shrine, thick with flowers left by mourners.

An overflow crowd of thousands gathered nearby to watch on giant video screens, and multitudes more watched and listened on statewide TV and radio to the ceremony for Wellstone; his wife Sheila, 58; his daughter Marcia Wellstone Markuson, 33; and campaign staffers Mary McEvoy, 49, Tom Lapic, 49, and Will McLaughlin, 23.

All six were killed in a plane crash Friday in northern Minnesota. The plane's two pilots, Richard Conry, 55, and Michael Guess, 30, also died.

The service was packed with national political figures. Former President Bill Clinton and New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's arrival drew a huge cheer from the crowd. They were followed by former Vice President Al Gore; Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D.; Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.; Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss.; and many others.

The crowd watched a photo and video collage of Wellstone and the other victims, set to Bob Dylan's Forever Young.

David McLaughlin, brother of Will McLaughlin, recalled several of his brother's adventures as Wellstone's personal assistant and driver.

"Will and Paul really did work well together," McLaughlin said. "I really do believe that's why they became such good friends."

But he also recalled one instance, when McLaughlin and Wellstone were stuck in traffic and they debated which way to go: "I don't know what words were said, but Will learned very quickly you don't tell a senator to just chill out."

Before the eulogies, the crowd erupted when Walter Mondale, expected to replace Wellstone on the ballot, walked in with his wife, Joan. Mondale smiled broadly, exchanging handshakes and hugs with Clinton and others.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, former governor of neighboring Wisconsin, represented the Bush administration after initial reports had Vice President Dick Cheney attending. The Wellstone family asked Cheney to stay away, in part out of concern that his presence might overshadow the event.

Hours before the service, people climbed onto the green bus to view photos of Wellstone and his wife. Several people cried; others crossed themselves.

"He represented the regular people," said Irv Rosenblum of St. Paul. "He didn't represent the high and the mighty."

Mondale is widely expected to replace Wellstone in the race against Republican Norm Coleman, a former St. Paul mayor. A party committee is expected to nominate him this evening.

Family and close friends attended a private funeral for Paul and Sheila Wellstone at a Minneapolis synagogue on Monday. Their bodies were buried in Lakewood Cemetery.

Report: Mondale to start campaign tonight

WASHINGTON -- Former Vice President Walter Mondale intends to appear before Minnesota party leaders tonight to launch a campaign to hold the late Paul Wellstone's seat for the Democrats, the Associated Press reported, quoting unnamed party officials.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Tuesday that Mondale was expected to make his first public appearance as a candidate Thursday.

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