Politics & Government
DFLer Thomas Craft Files to Try to Oust John Kline from Congress
Craft joins former DFL state Rep. Mike Obermueller in Minnesota Second District race, according to Politics in Minnesota. Meanwhile Kline reported $1.1 million in his campaign coffers, the Star Tribune said.
U.S. Rep. John Kline (R-MN) gained a second DFL Party challenger this week when Thomas Craft followed former state Rep. Mike Obermueller in filing candidacy papers ahead of an official announcement Craft has set for Saturday, according to Politics in Minnesota:
“I think people are sick of normal politicians and we need someone who can go out there and relate to people,” Craft said this week. “I’ve got a young family, I’ve got students loans, I’ve got a mortgage and all these things people can relate to.” ...
There’s been an influx of DFL interest in Kline’s seat since the new redistricting maps were released in February 2012. Under the new maps, Kline’s once reliably conservative district shed GOP strongholds in Rice, LeSeur and Carver Counties, while picking up DFL territory in parts of West St. Paul and Mendota Heights.
Read the full article at politicsinminnesota.com.
Whatever their party, it won't be easy Kline's challengers to wrest his seat in Congress away from the incumbent in 2014. The Star Tribune reported on his warchest:
Republican U.S. Rep. John Kline reported he had $1.1 million cash on hand to defend his south suburban seat, as a new Democratic challenger stepped forward to make that job more difficult. ... David Gerson, a Republican who netted 15 percent in a primary against Kline last year, is also challenging him again this year.
Read the full Hot Dish Politics blog post at startribune.com.
Related at Patch:
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