It was one of those events where a panel of politicians gave energetic speeches of how the facility would boost the state's agriculture economy.

Conrad said he worked with the the developers of United Pulse, the pea and lentil company, and others to help make the project possible at the Northern Plains Commerce Centre. He also said he authored legislation in the 2002 farm bill that secured federal support for pulse crops and helped get $3 million in federal funding for the NPCC.

After swinging a golden sledgehammer to help pound a symbolic golden spike at the Northern Plains Commerce Centre, Conrad shook hands with other dignitaries and businessmen before heading to the next event.

His next stop was Grand Forks, where he met with sugar beet growers to talk about prices and trade issues before heading to the University of North Dakota to meet with Nicholas Sabatini, the Federal Aviation Administration's associate administrator.

Conrad paged through a thick binder to prepare for the next meeting and scarfed down a lunch that included a cold tuna sandwich, pasta salad, fruit and dessert. His communications director, Chris Thorne, accompanied him and helped make sure Conrad had all the materials he needed to review.

He told the sugar beet growers that it is probably better to keep the current sugar provisions in the farm bill and try to expand them later, as opposed to starting with a new plan. Conrad also told the farmers how displeased he was with the Bush administration trade policies.

Conrad told the group that the farm bill negotiations will be much different this year because, when the farm bill was crafted in 2002, the country had a $5.6 trillion surplus and $73.5 million was reserved for agriculture programs. Now, the country is running a deficit and will add more than $500 billion in debt this year.

After the meeting with sugar beet growers, Conrad did a quick interview with a radio reporter before stepping into a large van that took him on a short trip to the University of North Dakota's aerospace facility.

On the way to the university, Conrad said how important it is for UND, the FAA and the Air Force to work closely to develop the city's aerospace opportunities. The Grand Forks Air Force Base has been selected as a site for unmanned aerial vehicles, and Conrad would like to see more Air Force missions brought to the base. Conrad said he has developed strong relationships with Air Force officials that have helped save bases in Minot and Grand Forks from being closed.

After a 90-minute closed-door meeting with Sabatini and other officials, Conrad said Sabatini agreed to meet with him and Air Force officials in Washington about the possibilities of expanded missions at the Air Force base.

He has ranked high in various surveys. In a recent Survey USA poll, he received a 74 percent approval rating. He also was named one of the top 10 senators by Time magazine.

Although he squeaked by Republican Mark Andrews by 2,135 votes to win his first term in the Senate in 1986, he easily defeated Republican Ben Clayburgh by 16 percentage points in 1994 and Duane Sand by more than 22 percentage points in 2000.

In his first foray into politics, he won the election to become tax commissioner in 1980 and was re-elected in 1984 with 79 percent of the vote.

Conrad said his opponent doesn't change the way he runs his campaign and he doesn't have much to say about his opponent, Dwight Grotberg, except that he is a nice person. He doesn't know Grotberg beyond having a few conversations with him at public events.

Conrad describes himself as a centrist, but he doesn't know how to compare his political views to Grotberg because he doesn't know Grotberg well enough.

"Does a centrist mean that you condemn the president for busting the budget and then come back to the state and talk about how much money you bring back to the state that comes from other states?" Karls said.

Conrad said he votes against a lot of spending, but he also touts the amount of money the federal government has given North Dakota. Conrad said that's not contradictory to being fiscally responsible because a large state with few people depends more on federal money than others.

Conrad is opposed to amending the Constitution to prohibit flag desecration, but he is in favor of strengthening laws to prevent people from desecrating it.

They both have similar views on immigration. They both favor an increase in border security and a system to allow some immigrants into the country.

Conrad will probably be around the Senate for a while, as long as he keeps winning. He and his wife, Lucy Calautti, live in Washington, D.C., but Conrad maintains an apartment near the Capitol in Bismarck. Conrad has a daughter, Jessamyn Conrad, from a previous marriage.

He said senators should quit when the physical demands of the job are too much. At 58 and in good shape, the physical demands are not an issue for Conrad.

He currently serves on the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Finance Committee, Indian Affairs Committee and is a ranking member of the Budget Committee.

ND Liberal wrote on September 03, 2006 8:51 PM:"Lauri....Compared to the Republican leadership I would be proud to call myself a "liberal." LIBERAL is not a negative term, in fact, if you had done any research you would learn that LIBERALISM has a deep and rich tradition of helping other people.That means alot in a day of unprecedented mediocrity under your NEO-CONSERVATIVE leadership."

Bismarcker wrote on September 03, 2006 4:33 PM:"I hate to admit it, but Bob hit the nail on the head. Our nation has moved toward mediocrity and that is very frightening. All you have to do is read all of the blogs in all of the articles and you come to that conclusion. Especially the articles from the "regulars.""

Dave Bundy, editor wrote on September 03, 2006 3:56 PM:"To SJ: It was a technical problem and we're fixing it right now. Not to get too technical, but we assign one story as the top one each night and designate it in code as TOP1. Because we wanted to treat the stories for Conrad and Grotberg as equally as possible we did one at TOP1 and one as TOP2. It turns out though, that the site only recognizes one TOP story, so TOP1 went up and TOP2 vanished. We're posting it right now and they will all be archived online for all to read anytime up to election."

Steve wrote on September 03, 2006 2:58 PM:"Thats why your not a North Dakotan....because you are some out-of-state republican trying to influence elections. So....Hit the road Jack and don't come back no more. Conrad is doing a heck'uva job (unlike Brownie)."

Bob Parnell wrote on September 03, 2006 2:29 PM:"Well,At least he doesn't follow the party line, dictated by George W. Bush. He seems to have more brains, than 70% of this medicroe nation.Bob"

Ilikeconrad wrote on September 03, 2006 11:50 AM:"I like Senator Conrad but won't vote for him this time around, have always voted for him in the past years he's run. This time is different, he voted and supported Senate Bill 2611 which would allow all illegal aliens citizenship and then let all their relatives into this country and become americans to. The war in Iraq, and terror war are important no doubt, but not as important as my health care, social security, and the lawlessness illegals bring to communties they move into. The govt's own estimate is that with this bill if passed in the house, that 100 million new citizens from mostly central america and mexico would come here and live and be eligible for all the things you and I have worked so hard for. Just think if our population increases by 25% in the coming years who will pay for this? The govt recently stated just to make citizens out of the illegal already here would cost taxpayers $126 billion dollars. I ask any of you who work for a living is that what you want? If so vote for Conrad because he supported all of that by voting for Senate Bill 2611. If not forget about his seniority and vote against him, simple as that this time around."

SJ wrote on September 03, 2006 10:54 AM:"I find it interesting that the Tribune chooses to put the Conrad article from today's paper on the website but not his opponent's article. You certainly have a right to your endorsement but you should at least be fair."

Larry wrote on September 03, 2006 10:25 AM:"Well thank goodness you are not a North Dakotan, just keep you foolish thoughts to yourself and vote for who ever you want in your own state or country. Our under populated (only one member of the House) state has done quit well with Senator Conrad at the helm in Washington. He has seniority, he has seniority, he has seniority and that makes him powerful, powerful, powerful and that is good, good, good for North Dakota. To replace him with someone with no political experience would be foolish, foolish, foolish!"

Barney wrote on September 03, 2006 10:11 AM:"I agree with Steve - all Conrad can do is criticize the President and Republicans and vote against everything the people of ND support - he is the lap dog for the National Democrat Party. Here we go again with Seniority - why then with all this clout/seniority can't he get enough votes in the Senate from other Senators to override a threatened veto by the President on disaster aid for farmers. its because he isn't as powerful as he says he is and he continues with that lie. If he's so powerful why then couldn't he and other Democrats pass the budget in 01-02 when the Dems temporarily took control of the Senate with the help of Jim Jeffords (Conrad was chairman of the budget committee at the time). They Dems were the majority and even Conrad couldn't get his own party to agree on a budget. Why do people give Conrad a pass on his lie in 1986 that he wouldn't seek re-election if the budget wasn't balanced but ran for the Senate again? All Conrad knows how to do is scare people by coming back to ND and saying that if you don't vote for me, the big bad Republicans will take away your Social Security, take away your Medicare, take food out of your mouth. CONRAD IS A DISGRACE TO ND and supports Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton and Howard Dean. I have said it before - people in ND will vote more on name recognition than give anyone else a chance - people are lazy - I say now is the time for Conrad to leave but they won't since Conrad, Dorgan and Pomeroy think its their seat until they die in office. "

BB wrote on September 03, 2006 9:26 AM:"Steve get your facts right, on numerous times has Mr. Conrad been there for our state. So what if he is a Democrat he is getting the job done for our state regardless. look what happen when they voted out Daschle in South Dakota they suffered in help. I would want a Senior member of the senate making decisions for us rather then a Freshman senator any day."

Lauri wrote on September 03, 2006 8:35 AM:"I love it when Democrats call themselves "centrists". In other words, they don't want to say they are conservative because that is an absolute no,no...in the democratic world, so the pas few years they've been using the word "centrist" (which is just another name for liberal) the word SOUNDS like in the middle, but in reality, it represents liberalism in the end. I've never heard a Republican calling themselves a "centrist". So PLEASE be honest Democrats, you are NOT conservative, you are NOT centrists...you are liberal. "

Just me... wrote on September 03, 2006 8:07 AM:"Nice campaign piece for Conrad here. This isn't news; this is opinion. Thanks for reminding me of why I moved away from North Dakota."

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