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Days before the 8th District DFL primary election Former Congressman Rick Nolan is calling  this new ad from his opponent Tarryl Clark, "gutter-dirty politics."

Nolan is defending his work as founder and chairman of the  Minnesota World Trade Center against Clark's claims that he  took "lavish trips overseas" rather than creating middle class jobs.

Nolan says former Gov. Rudy Perpich appointed him to establish the center, which he says he did on  a volunteer basis for four years before accepting a paid position in 1986.  Clark claims that as head of the center Nolan fought for a $200,000 bonus and one of the highest taxpayer salaries. Nolan says the ad is "dishonest"

"It's disappointing you now to have someone who moves into the district, comes in with outside money and start denigrating the accomplishments of our governor,  Rudy Perpich,  and all those who served him, myself included," Nolan said in an interview.  "We're very proud of what we were able to accomplish at the World Trade Center and make no apologies for it."

We've asked for an interview with Clark. Her campaign says it's trying to arrange it. We will update this post when we talk to her. 

On Tuesday DFL Primary voters in the 8th District will decide which Democrat will take on  Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack in November. In addition to Nolan and Clark, Jeff Anderson is also running in the primary. Anderson is out with a new ad as well that underscores his Iron Range up-bringing.

UPDATE: The Clark campaign maintains its ad is accurate and calls the spot a "Minnesota-nice" version of what Republicans will do to Nolan regarding his record at the Minnesota World Trade Center if he ends up winning next week's primary and running against Cravaack in November.

Politics and Government News

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Mark Zdechlik

Author

Clark goes after Nolan over World Trade Center job as primary approaches

Clark attacks Nolan in new ad

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