It's great to visit with so many of you as I travel throughout the state. Our momentum builds everyday, and I'm grateful for the hundreds of volunteers who've been working at parades and other events, rain or shine. Many of you have had a chance to meet some of my family members, including my dad, Jim; my mom, Rose; my in-laws, Bill and Marilyn (they wear the "I'm Amy's In-Law" t-shirts); and my daughter and husband.

In addition to the fun, there are always a lot of serious discussions and good questions about the important issues facing our state and nation. Here are a few of the most common questions I get asked, along with my answers. There'll be more to come in the months ahead. Also, please visit our Web site at amyklobuchar.com to learn more and to contribute or volunteer. There's an important contribution reporting deadline coming up on September 30, and I would really appreciate your help.

1. What should we do about what happened to New Orleans?

First we need to continue helping the victims. Thousands of Minnesotans have already contributed to the relief effort with money, supplies, volunteer time and even their homes. Information on how to help is available on our website, amyklobuchar.com.

Second, we must investigate what could, or should, have been done better to prepare and how could the richest nation on earth have left so many people stranded for so long -- many of them too sick, too young or too old to leave.

Third, we must take action. The images of the desperate people left behind was like a mirror held to the faces of our country's leadership. What happened in New Orleans was a reflection of decisions made in Washington and elsewhere. In Minnesota, we've had experiences with disasters like the 1998 St. Peter tornado, the 1997 flood in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks and the Mississippi and Minnesota River floods of 1993. Minnesotans know that fast action and federal support were crucial in recovering and rebuilding in the aftermath of these natural disasters. We must not let Washington shirk its responsibilities to protect Americans.

2. Do you support privatizing Social Security?

No. For generations, Social Security has been a stable and secure retirement guarantee for all Americans. I oppose this administration's risky scheme to privatize Social Security because it would turn the guarantee of a secure retirement into a gamble, with only the big financial companies on Wall Street coming out as sure winners. The administration's plan would divert billions of dollars out of Social Security and put it into the stock market. It would also require trillions of dollars of borrowing for transition costs. That's no way to fix a system. I support enhancing private retirement options such as IRA and 401(k) accounts. And I believe we can plan ahead on a bipartisan basis to responsibly address any Social Security funding shortfalls.

3. What can we do about gas prices?

As I travel the state, many of you have shared your concerns about the rising costs of energy. And, of course, I've seen and experienced it myself every time I go to fill up my own car with gas. Experts say we should get used to these price levels, and not be surprised if they go even higher. Our country currently has to buy well over half of our oil from foreign countries. This growing dependence on foreign oil threatens both our prosperity and our national security. We can't continue down the same energy path that's got us here, but Washington seems more interested in protecting the big oil companies. Complacency is our enemy, and we need a comprehensive energy strategy to get us on a better course.

While the recently passed energy bill includes a number of provisions that will help promote homegrown Minnesota energy, I believe we need to do more. Here in Minnesota, we have the ability to produce a wide variety of homegrown energy -- ethanol, biodiesel, wind, solar and biomass sources. As your Senator, I will encourage the use of homegrown alternative fuels that will bolster Minnesota's economy, and I will fight to strengthen efficiency and emission standards so we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

We also need to stop price gouging by oil companies. In early September, I called for a "gas gouging penalty" against oil companies that were gouging American consumers at the gas pump even before Hurricane Katrina. Oil companies this year have been enjoying record profits. Exxon Mobil is the richest company in America. It violates our basic principle of fair play when major oil companies can gouge consumers-- not only hurting ordinary families, but also harming other businesses that see their own costs go up dramatically.

4. How can we improve our education system?

Although a county attorney usually isn't involved in education, I have made it a priority to work closely with the schools in the communities that I serve. I introduced new initiatives to keep schools safe and to help keep kids in school and out of trouble because prevention and early intervention are a lot cheaper than prosecution and incarceration. As County Attorney, I've sought to keep kids in the classroom and on the playground, rather than having them end up in the courtroom and on the prison ground. I've also emphasized the essential role of parental responsibility. If there's any magic to kids thriving in school and doing well in life, it's the magic of parental expectations and involvement.

Minnesotans have always believed that investing in quality education pays off -- from early childhood to higher education. Our past investment has resulted in our high school students having some of the highest test scores in the nation. Minnesotans are proud of our reputation as a brainpower state, but we also know we can't rest on our laurels.

I will fight for high standards and accountability in education -- but in a way that provides local schools and teachers with the support they need to fulfill these standards. Washington deserves an "F" for failing to provide the funding it promised to implement the No Child Left Behind law. Nearly $27 billion has been withheld from America's schools, over $91 million for Minnesota alone. The federal government has also failed to meet its obligations to fund special education and grants and loans for college tuition such as the Pell Grants. It's wrong when tuition at the University of Minnesota has gone up 81% in seven years. I will fight for education because our future success as a state and a nation depends on making quality education accessible to everyone at all levels.

5. What should we do about Iraq?

I believe the American people deserve honest answers from the administration in Washington about what's happening and what we're doing. The administration was not truthful about our reasons for invading Iraq, nor was it truthful about having a plan once we invaded. Whether you were for or against the invasion of Iraq, we can all agree now that we need a clear plan for bringing our troops home safely. With more than 1,800 Americans killed, countless Iraqis dead and over $300 billion already spent on the war, the administration must not be allowed to stonewall and simply maintain the status quo. The American people need to know how the administration plans to transfer responsibility for Iraq's security to its own forces and work with our allies so our troops can return home.

I also believe that, while we have troops on the ground in Iraq and other countries, we must do all we can to protect these brave men and women as they serve. They need the best equipment and intelligence to keep them as safe as possible. And when they come home, we should honor their service and bravery by giving them the education and health care benefits they were promised. I'm committed to ensuring that our veterans and their families, particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, receive all they deserve.

6. How can we control the growing debt?

Each day our government spends over $800 million dollars servicing the debt. That money could be put to much better use for college scholarships, roads and investment in renewable energy. Our current and future prosperity is endangered by the reckless fiscal policies of the current administration. We'll always need to spend what it takes to secure our country and to respond to disasters like Katrina. But the lack of discipline in Washington since President Bush took office has led to a record level of debt. In just a few short years, they've turned a $200 billion dollar surplus into a $300 billion dollar deficit. This deficit means that every child in America today owes a $26,000 birth tax -- the share of the federal deficit owed by each and every American.

It is simply irresponsible for the Republican leadership in Washington to burden our children and grandchildren with this debt. I believe we must put an end to this by returning to the "Pay-As-You-Go" rules which worked so well in the 1990's to create surpluses. As your Senator, I will fight to restore financial common sense in Washington.

7. How would you have voted on CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement)?

I would have voted against it. I believe we need fair trade, not just free trade. Properly negotiated trade agreements have the potential to create new opportunities for Minnesotans while increasing living standards and economic development overseas. But when those agreements ignore low labor and environmental standards in other countries, the full gains of free trade cannot be realized.

The sugar provisions in the CAFTA will harm the sugar industry and the over 30,000 Minnesotans who work in it. The administration in Washington failed to negotiate a fair deal for sugar farmers and missed the opportunity to present a trade agreement that could get bi-partisan support. During my visit to American Crystal Sugar's plant in Moorhead, I met with sugar beet farmers and plant workers. These hard-working Minnesotans deserve an even playing field in the global market and representatives in Congress who will put their interests first.

8. What are your views on farm policy?

Minnesota's 80,000 farms represent a proud part of our state's heritage and history. Even more importantly, they continue to contribute a vital share to our state's prosperity. Farming and related agricultural production make up a quarter of the state's total exports, adding more to our economy than any other single industry. I know that Minnesota's prosperity depends on protecting and strengthening the economies of communities across the state, including those in Greater Minnesota. I will fight so our farmers can compete on a level playing field and get the fair prices they deserve. I will also fight for efforts to create new jobs in rural communities by growing Minnesota's renewable fuel industry. As your Senator, I will put Minnesota first by seeking a seat on the Senate's Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.

9. What can you do about my rising health care premiums?

Minnesotans face higher health care costs than ever before. Many businesses, particularly small businesses, can no longer afford to bear the costs of health insurance even though they want to cover their employees. As costs increase, employees are asked to pay a larger share of the premiums, or they get no health care insurance at all. This leads to more and more uninsured Minnesotans who are forced to seek costly care in our hospital's emergency rooms. Taxpayers ultimately pay for this belated, more expensive care and it's one of the reasons I will work to cut costs and move towards universal health coverage.

When I go to Washington, I will focus on cutting health care costs by insisting that we negotiate lower prices with the pharmaceutical companies. The administration and Congress made a big mistake in the prescription drug bill when they banned the federal government from negotiating with the big drug companies to get the best prices for our seniors. We should also aggressively fight health care fraud, push for a fair Medicare reimbursement system that doesn't leave Minnesota at the end of the line, and work to reduce administrative costs. We should use new technology to make patient care safer, more effective and less expensive through the use of electronic medical records.

10. How will you win this election?

We'll win this election because the people of Minnesota believe that it's time for their elected leaders to put the public interest ahead of the special interests. We'll win by grabbing the imagination of the people of this state with our own ideas and our own agenda. We'll win by defining the terms of the election with Minnesota values of hard work, fair play and responsibility. We'll win by fighting back when those values are attacked.

As Paul Wellstone so often reminded us, we'll win by organizing. Along with hundreds of volunteers and dedicated college interns, we've marched in parades from Albert Lea to Eveleth this summer. I would like to send a heartfelt thank you to our entire grassroots network of contributors and volunteers. Your energy and dedication will help us succeed against the big money behind the Republican machine. Senator Bill Frist, House Speaker Dennis Hassert and Vice President Cheney have already come to Minnesota to raise money for the Kennedy campaign. Our efforts have proven that those Washington "celebrities" are no match for the homegrown celebrities supporting our campaign, including the Gear Daddies band from Austin, Minnesota. And they're no match for our momentum.