Minnesota is the home of 10,000 lakes, one of
the most expensive congressional campaigns on record and a governor eyeing the White House.
Incumbent Republican Michele Bachmann, fighting to keep her 6th Congressional District seat in Tuesday's primary, announced recently she
raised a whopping $1.7 million during the second, three-month reporting period. Good thing, too, because looking ahead to November, the fight
between Bachmann and odds-on Democratic nominee state Sen. Tarryl Clark is rapidly becoming one of the nation's most expensive tilts, Politico
reported.
Overall, Bachmann has raised more than $4 million for her campaign and Clark brought in more than $2 million, including $910,000 in the second reporting period.
But being unopposed in the Republican primary doesn't mean Bachmann -- known for making outrageous remarks then backing off saying she was misquoted -- isn't having an easy time of it. Her staff has been hit with defections, including her finance director and chief of staff, and she caught flak from Tea Party supporters for a planned campaign appearance supporting Missouri
Republican Rep. Roy Blunt instead of the Tea Party-supported Chuck Purgason in his failed attempt to derail Blunt's November face-off with Democrat Robin Carnahan.
Nearly $7 million has been channeled into Minnesota's 6th Congressional District race so far, Federal Election Commission first quarter reports and individual campaigns' estimates for second quarters, MinnPost.com reported.
"I think this is going to be one of the most expensive House races in the country -- particularly one without a self-funder," said Nathan Gonzales, political editor of the Rothenberg Political Report in Washington. "Bachmann has a national profile that allows both the congresswoman and Clark to raise money across the country. That's why we're seeing so much money poured into the race."
And this is in the state that sported the hugely expensive -- and long -- U.S. Senate race between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken, in which it took the state Supreme Court to declare Franken the winner in July 2009 following the 2008 election.
Another cash-rich campaign is the Democratic gubernatorial campaign for a candidate hoping to replace Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who announced he wouldn't seek a third term and is testing the waters for a 2012 presidential
run. Candidates have raised more than $9 million so far, although a chunk of change came from the candidates themselves, Minnesota Public Radio reported. If spending by outside groups is factored in, MPR said, the total price tag could top $20 million.
Not surprisingly, the two biggest spenders are the two candidates with the ost personal wealth -- Matt Entenza and Mark Dayton. Since forming their campaigns, Entenza pumped a little more than $4 million of his own money on the race while Dayton spent $3.3 million out of his pocket.
Dayton, a former U.S. senator, wouldn't say how much he plans to spend if he wins Tuesday's primary, but indicated it would be significant. He also dismissed criticism that he's trying to buy the election.
"It's a bizarre commentary on our political process in this country that our political support is somehow based on the number of dollars someone raises, rather than the number of people who support his or her candidacy when it counts," Dayton said.
Margaret Anderson Kelliher, the party's endorsed gubernatorial candidate, has been portraying herself as the underdog when it comes to spending. So far, Kelliher has raised nearly $1 million in 2010, MPR said.
"This is kind of a David versus two Goliaths in this race," she said. "How David won is the effective and efficient use of the resources that he had, and that's what I plan on doing."
While the three Democrats are duking it out in the primary, Republican state Rep. Tom Emmer is eyeing November.
Emmer reported raising $785,000 in 2010.
In the Democratic race, Dayton and Kelliher each seem to hold significant leads on Republican front-runner Emmer, a Star Tribune Minnesota Poll has indicated. Entenza has a statistically insignificant lead over Emmer, the poll showed.
USElections.com indicates other Republican gubernatorial candidates are Bob Carney Jr., Leslie Davis and Ole Savior. Democrat Peter Idusogie is also running.
Running as an independent is former congressional aide Tom Horner, who analysts say could siphon votes from both Democrats and Republicans.
Emmers has run into some negative press recently for his support of a so-called tip credit. In states with tip credits, the minimum wage can be
waived for employees who get tips. After servers and opponents voiced outrage, Emmer has been hazy on his views about restaurant workers' salaries, later saying he would envision freezing tipped employees' salaries if the minimum wage rose. Then his spokesman said he wouldn't propose a
minimum wage increase. But ... Emmers also told MPR he would "absolutely" sign a cut in the minimum wage if the Legislature approves one.
In Minnesota' 2nd Congressional District, Democratic candidates are both jobless and running shoe-string campaigns to take on longtime incumbent Republican Rep. John Kline, who has overwhelming name recognition and more than $500,000 in unspent campaign cash, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.
Dan Powers, the party-endorsed candidate, is trying to focus on Kline, whom he depicts as out of touch with the district. But Shelley Madore, who lost the endorsement to Powers when she conceded at the party convention then changed her mind, keeps nipping at his heels, several polls indicate.
Kline has held the seat since 2002 and handily defeated DFL challenger Steve Sarvi in the 2008 election.
In the 1st Congressional District, incumbent Democratic Rep. Tim Waltz is unopposed while state Rep. Randy Demmer and Tea Party activist Steven Wilson are vying for the GOP nod.
In the 3rd Congressional District, Republican incumbent Erik Paulsen and Democratic challenger Jim Meffert are unopposed.
Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum faces Diana Longrie in the 4th Congressional District party primary. Squaring off in the Republican primary tilt are Teresa Collett and Jack Shepherd, USElections.com said.
Two candidates are challenging incumbent Rep. Keith Ellison in the 5th Congressional District race -- Gregg Iverson and Tea Party activist Barb
Davis White. Joel Demos is running unopposed on the Republican ticket.
Rep. Collin Peterson is unopposed in his re-election bid for the 7th Congressional District Seat. Republican voters must chose from Lee Byberg, Alan Roebke and Glen Menze.
In the 8th Congressional District, veteran Jim Oberstar is challenged by W.D. Hamm, while Chip Cravaack is unopposed on the Republican ballot.