Big Money Pours into Minnesota's 8th congressional district

Mills, Nolan battle to win over anxious DFLers in state's tightest race for Congress

Excerpt:

If there is an epicenter to the most expensive U.S. House race in the country, it may be at a small dairy farm in this community north of the Twin Cities. At Bartchelle Dairy, where milk from about 70 cows is shipped daily to Land O’Lakes, a group of farmers and ranchers talked last week about how their parents and grandparents were all DFLers.

Now this group is struggling to connect with the party of their forebears. They blame politicians for a sluggish economic recovery, higher health care costs and more stringent environmental regulations. While they love working outside, they say they feel like it should be easier to achieve a middle-class life.

In Minnesota’s sprawling Eighth Congressional District, Republican Stewart Mills is trying to capitalize on strains in the DFL as he makes a second bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan. The district is a former DFL stronghold full of blue-collar voters who Republicans have long felt should be receptive to calls for limited government and fewer environmental regulations.

Comments: Stewart Mills pic from his website. Rick Nolan's a snap from his Facebook  page. Because the 8th is served by the Twin Cities' TV market, we must see 10 ads a day or more. Nolan paints Mills as a trust fund kid who's never worked. I'm pulling for Stewart Mills! As you can view with this tag, I've been following this for several election cycles.

The Minnesota 8th District - One of the most expensive congressional races in the Nation

Negative ads propel, repel votes in tight 8th District race Excerpt:

As Democrats paint Mills as a rich party boy who's more concerned about his hair than helping the working people of the 8th District, Republicans are portraying Nolan as a big spending, gun-seizing liberal who doesn't care about veterans. "So when it comes to our Second Amendment freedom don't be fooled. Rick Nolan is nothing but a poser," says an announcer in an ad by the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. Another, by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, accuses Nolan of causing layoffs by voting to keep a tax that is part of the Affordable Care Act. "Rick Nolan's what's wrong with Washington," an announcer says.

In the final days of closest race, Nolan, Mills battle for every last vote Excerpt:

The district now ranks second among all U.S. House races for outside cash pouring in, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. A recent Star Tribune analysis showed that independent groups have pumped more than $12 million into ads, mailers and other efforts to influence the outcome. The nation’s top politicos have beaten a path to northern Minnesota, with Vice President Joe Biden praising Nolan’s leadership at a rally in Hibbing last week. On Friday, National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Rep. Greg Walden turned up in this dusty industrial suburb of Duluth to thank Mills supporters. Once a DFL stronghold, the Eighth has morphed into more of a swing district. Voters here bounced longtime Rep. Jim Oberstar in 2010, replacing him with Republican Chip Cravaack. That lasted two years, and in 2012 — a presidential year — voters swung back to the DFL, electing Nolan. This time, every major national political forecaster is calling the race for the Eighth a tossup. Days ago, national political expert Larry Sabato at the University of Virginia went further, becoming the first to change the race to “lean Republican.” A win for Republicans here would be a blow to Democrats, and strong GOP turnout could affect the races for governor, senator and control of the Minnesota House.

Comment: Not a clue of how this will go - but will be watching closely.

Upset in Iron Range? Chip Cravaack in Minnesota's 8th District

Neophyte Puts Veteran on the Defensive

Excerpt:

Chip Cravaack, 51, is a retired Navy helicopter pilot turned stay-at-home dadwho found himself simmering over the health-care bill last summer. He said he went to Mr. Oberstar's local Congressional office with 25 others and asked for a town-hall meeting on the topic.

When the group was rebuffed, Mr. Cravaack said he called his friend, the mayor of Lindstrom, the town of 3,000 where he lives, and asked: "I want to run for Congress. What do I do?"

Mr. Cravaack's campaign has since raised $600,000 and picked up some traction. Mr Cravaack released a poll this month showing that he trails his opponent by just three points.

Comment: This race will be close. I'm not in this district but Chip Cravaack is the man to vote for! Oberstar is too old and out of touch with the needs of this district. Chip Cravaack official site.

Oberstar had just one donor from his home district this past quarter

Ouch: Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., has just one donor from his district

Excerpt:

With a potentially competitive race developing back home in Minnesota’s 8th District, Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar collected a contribution from just one resident of the district between June 22 and Sept. 30, according to a federal election report filed Wednesday.

Jane Robbins of Pine City gave Oberstar $500 on Aug. 22.

Other than that, all of his contributions came from political action committees, Native American tribes or individual donors in other districts and states.

In all, the veteran Iron Range Democrat, first elected in 1974, collected just $233,102 in receipts over the time period.

Comment: See previous blog post

Read more at the Washington Examiner:

Another race to watch: Minnesota 8th District

Has Oberstar met his match?

Excerpt:

Rep. Jim Oberstar is learning that in a year of unpredictable politics, even household names have to defend their brand.

Former Navy captain and political novice Chip Cravaack is giving the 18-term congressman his first serious challenge in years -- enough that national Republicans are openly salivating about the prospect of toppling the dean of Minnesota's congressional delegation.

"This is the first guy that's appeared against him with a hammer," said Oberstar supporter Jean Laker, tucking into an early dinner at Vaughn's restaurant in Hoyt Lakes. "The rest of them had feather pillows."

Keeping the Eighth District in DFL hands has implications across Minnesota's political spectrum. The Eighth is known for delivering big for Democrats on election night. Losing support there could upend secure seats in the Legislature and possibly even cut into support for gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton.

Cravaack, 51, brings a military mindset to his campaign. He plans to deploy 500 volunteers -- many ranked as commanders, captains or precinct lieutenants -- between now and Election Day. He tours the sprawling district in a bannered motor home dubbed "The War Wagon."

It would take seismic political change for a GOP victory in the DFL stronghold of northeastern Minnesota.

No Republican has represented the Eighth District since 1947. But Cravaack, a former Northwest Airlines pilot, has galvanized local conservatives and prodded at least some Oberstar supporters into reconsidering their vote.

Comments:

• The NYTimes profile: Minnesota 8th District Profile (They don't see it as close!)
  
• Official site: Chip Cravaack for Congress
  
• Per Chip Cravaack site, he is closing: A poll released last week that showed Chip Cravaack within three points of 18-term incumbent Congressman Jim Oberstar