>> MARY: AS YOU'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE SHOW TONIGHT, FROM THE BEGINNING, "ALMANAC" HAS HAD A MAGICAL MIX OF SUBSTANCE AND LEVITY.

IT'S A TRADITION I'VE BEEN HAPPY TO NURTURE AND GROW FOR ALMOST THREE DECADES NOW AT THE CAPITOL.

FRANKLY, SOMETIMES I CAN'T BELIEVE THE FUN WE'VE HAD COVERING POLITICS.

MY FIRST MAJOR MEMORY OF "ALMANAC" IS THE GRUNSETH GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN IMPLODING.

IN FACT, THE CANDIDATE CALLED MY HOUSE TO GIVE MY AP REPORTER THE SCOOP DROPPING OUT OF THE ELECTION.

>> BROUGHT THEM BACK TO THE HOUSE WHERE THEY SPENT THE NIGHT.

>> Mary: CARLSON WON AND THEN VENTURA SHOCKED THE WORLD.

WE WERE THERE AND TRAVELED WITH HIM TO HOLLYWOOD, JAPAN, CHINA AND CUBA, WHERE HE ASKED PRESIDENT CASTRO ABOUT JFK'S ATHAT IS SAYINGS.

>> EVERYBODY SAYS YOU'RE A COOK IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE OSWALD DID IT.

>> Mary: NECESSARY UMM WAS GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY WHO BROUGHT HIS HEALTHY SENSE OF HUMOR TO OFFICE.

WE SAT DOWN WITH ALL OF HIS SIBLINGS TO SHARE STORIES TIMMY AS A CAMPAIGN HE ENTERED AS AN UNDERGROUND, >> THE NEXT GOVERNOR WILL NEED TO BE MORE ACTIVE.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND.

THAT'S A LITTLE TOO ACTIVE.

MERGERS CONTINUE AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO... [Laughter] >> WHAT'S NEXT, THE WHOOPI CUSHION, ERIC?

>> Mary: WE KEPT HAVING FUN WITH CANDIDATES, CREATING A BUDGET EXERCISE ON A HOMEMADE HOCKEY RINK.

>> >> WELCOME BACK TO FAMILIAR TERRITORY HERE.

>> HUNDREDSING TERRITORY.

>> YOU SAND-GAGGED US ON THIS.

YOU DIDN'T TELL US WHAT WE WERE GOING TO BE DOING AND YOU HANDED US A BUNDLE OF MONEY.

>> Mary: BUDGET SLAP SHOT MADE A COMEBACK WITH NEW CANDIDATES WHO HAD EVEN MORE CONNECTIONS TO HOCKEY.

>> SHE FINALLY TWISTED ME AND SHE'S GOING TO GET ME TO TAKE THESE OFF OF WHERE WE HAVE TO TAKE THEM.

>> Mary: DAYTON WON THE RAISE FOR GOVERNOR AND EMMER WOULD GO ON TO LEADERSHIP IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYTON MOMENTS IS WHEN HE WAS A U.S.

SENATOR AND KILLED SOME TIME ON STAGE.

>> SO GOOD, SO GOOD.

>> THE SNOW AND COLD DIDN'T SEEM TO DETER MANY HARDY MINNESOTANS.

>> Mary: U.S.

SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR MAY HAVE CREATED THE MOST MEMORABLE ONSTAGE MOMENT IN MINNESOTA POLITICS WHEN SHE LAUNCHED HER PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IN A BLIZZARD.

>> I HAVE ALL OF YOU WHO ARE WILLING TO COME OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER.

>> Mary: WE CAN'T RESIST A GOOD VISUAL SO WHEN A DOZEN CANDIDATES WANTED TO REPLACE REPRESENTATIVE SABO -- >> STEP FORWARD -- STEP INTO THE BOX IF YOU ARE NOT A LAWYER.

>> LOTS OF LAWYERS.

>> GOT ALL THE ATTORNEYS OVER HERE.

HAND-SLAPPING.

[Laughter] PROUD TO BE A LAWYER.

>> Mary: SEEMS WE KEPT ELECTED OFFICIALS ACTIVE FOR YEARS RUNNING WITH SENATE LEADER SENJEM.

>> ONE FOOT AHEAD OF THE OTHER.

>> Mary: YOU HAVE TO LY BACK TOMORROW FOR THE HEALTH CARE VOTE.

WE COOKED WITH U.S.

SENATOR FLANKEN AND ATE FAIR FOODS WITH GOVERNOR WALZ LONG BEFORE HE BECAME A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, FAMOUS FOR HIS AVERSION TO SPICE.

>> JALEPENO LIVELY AID.

IT'S NOT THAT SPICY.

MINNESOTANS WILL BE FINE, RIGHT?

>> YES, AND I