The following article by Kelly Smith was posted on the StarTribune website July 25, 2018:
Dean Phillips hopes his campaign tactics boost energy — and votes.
He’s campaigned in a fish house on frozen Lake Minnetonka, a revamped 1960s milk truck and now, Dean Phillips is taking his message to voters aboard a pontoon boat.
Wrapped in blue campaign signs, American flags and July 4th decorations, the boat the DFL contender for Congress dubbed the “Government Repair Pontoon” circled Excelsior Bay last week as Phillips waved to boaters.
“This is the first campaign pontoon,” said the 49-year-old businessman and first-time political candidate.