Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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WASHINGTON - A day after congressional Republicans and two days after a Democratic-aligned outside group announced plans to start airing TV ads in what's likely to be Minnesota's most contested congressional race, House Democrats also launched their first TV ad in the 8th District against first-term Republican Chip Cravaack.

The ad blitz marks the beginning of what could be a heavy season of negative ads for residents of northeastern Minnesota. Former Congressman Rick Nolan hopes to recapture the seat for the DFL after long-time U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar was defeated by Cravaack in a surprise upset in 2010.

The Associated Press reported last week that Democratic and Republican-aligned groups had reserved at least $2 million worth of ad time in the Twin Cities, although some of those ads might be directed at congressional races across the St. Croix River in Wisconsin.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's ad ties Cravaack to the House Republican budget roadmap authored by Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, who's now also the party's vice-presidential candidate.

 begins by saying Minnesotans value education but that Cravaack voted to "cut Pell Grants for 23,000 Minnesota college students" and also voted for $115 billion worth of education cuts. The ad ends by calling Cravaack, "wrong for Minnesota."

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Brett Neely

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It's the third major ad announcement in three days in the 8th District.

Let the 8th District ad wars begin: DCCC enters the fray

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