Franken, who has been helping Walz and other state Democrats, is expected to run against U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman in 2008.

Mark Piepho, a veteran campaigner who is running for the open state Senate seat being vacated by John Hottinger, was walking with his contingent of supporters behind Gutknecht’s group. Piepho, a Republican, said he’s noticed one change in parades and politicians over the years.

“It used to be you and your wife and maybe someone in a car following you,” Piepho said. “Now we all have the big groups with us. There’s more of a production, just like everything in politics, I guess.”

Kathy Sheran, the Democrat running against Piepho for the open seat, was walking with her supporter behind the Walz/Franken contingent.

Sheran said summer parades are a good way for candidates to introduce themselves and to begin generating interest in the political issues that will be debated more vigorously as the summer goes on.

“Walking in the parades, it’s a celebration of the election process.”

St. Peter resident Sue Burum said she, for one, likes seeing the candidates in the parades.

“They should be in the hometown parades. I take everyone’s stickers and information and sit down with it later and look up things on them. Especially the new ones.”

Burum said that for her, one of the big state issues, “Is whether we’ve kind of let our quality of life slip. Kids are paying to be in everything. It seems like maybe we’ve cut too much.”

On the national level, she said she’s particularly interested in how candidates say they will deal with the threats from Iran and Korea. “I’m worried about them. We’re already in the war in Iraq and I don’t think there’s much we can do there.”

As the hoards of political supporters wearing the T-shirts of their candidates filed down Washington Avenue, long-time Nicollet County Commissioner Judy Hanson looked on, waiting to file into her spot in the parade.

“I feel a little overwhelmed by all these candidates with their big groups,” said Hanson, who is running for re-election and hasn’t yet heard of anyone interested in running against her.

Hanson had a few family members walking with her and a pickup with signs behind her. “It’s actually more than I used to have. It just used to be (my husband) driving the truck and me walking,” she said.

“I think it’s important to be out here and represent county government. The county can get lost with all the state and national candidates, but it’s an important part of government.”