Sen. Amy Klobuchar: 'I'm Running For You'

MINNEAPOLIS — Amy Klobuchar announced her candidacy for president while speaking to a crowd in the middle of a snowstorm in Minneapolis Sunday. The three-term United States Senator from Minnesota is the first major candidate from the Midwest to join an already crowded field of Democrats hoping to defeat President Donald Trump in 2020.

"I’m running for this job for every person who wants their work recognized and rewarded," Klobuchar said.

"I’m running for every parent who wants a better world for their kids. I’m running for every student who wants a good education. For every senior who wants affordable prescription drugs. For every worker, farmer, dreamer, builder. For every American. I’m running for you."

More than 9,000 supporters joined Klobuchar and braved the February cold Sunday, according to number from her campaign.

In her speech, Klobuchar emphasized unity in the face of hate, division, and toxic politics. She also talked about her humble Midwestern upbringing.

"So today, on an island in the middle of the mighty Mississippi, in our nation’s heartland, at a time when we must heal the heart of our democracy and renew our commitment to the common good, I stand before you as the granddaughter of an iron ore miner, the daughter of a teacher and a newspaperman, the first woman elected to the United States Senate from the State of Minnesota, to announce my candidacy for President of the United States."

Next weekend, Klobuchar will begin a multi-state tour including stops in Wisconsin and Iowa with additional travel to be announced in the coming days.

Staff allegations

Klobuchar spoke Sunday under a cloud of allegations published last week regarding poor treatment of her staff. The Huffington Post reported on Feb. 6 that at least three people withdrew from consideration to run her campaign partly because of Klobuchar’s alleged history of mistreating people working for her.

Former Klobuchar staffers told the Huffington Post that she was "habitually demeaning and prone to bursts of cruelty that make it difficult to work in her office for long."

In a report published Friday, BuzzFeed said it reviewed emails — frequently sent between 1 and 4 a.m. — in which Klobuchar regularly berated her staff "often in all capital letters, over minor mistakes, misunderstandings, and misplaced commas."

"I’m not an anxious person; I’ve worked for other tough bosses," one former staffer told Buzzfeed.

"But it’s hard to explain the anxiety that permeates the office. It's an overwhelming sense of panic and not being able to plan. You never knew what was going to come at you. That compounds, and it affects the workplace."

Both the Huffington Post and Buzzfeed noted how often Klobuchar referred to staff work as "the worst" in years or in her life.

The New York Times reported in November on a survey that found from 2001 to 2016, Klobuchar's office had the highest turnover rate.

"I have high expectations," she told the Times.

Photo: Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announces her 2020 presidential bid on February 10, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The crowd braved cold temperatures and heavy snow during the event. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)