Minnesota Lawyer
Jim Graves (from campaign facebook page)
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has upgraded Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District race, adding Democratic candidate Jim Graves to its competitive “Red-to-Blue” list of targeted contests.
Graves, who owns the Graves Hotel in Minneapolis, will now get communications and strategic help from the national Democratic group in his quest to unseat incumbent Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann. There are currently 53 targeted races in the program, including Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, where DFL candidate Mike Obermueller is challenging Republican Rep. John Kline, and the race pitting Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack against DFLer Rick Nolan in the 8th Congressional District.
In announcing the move on Monday, DCCC Chairman Steve Israel cited an internal poll showing Graves’ trailing Bachmann by 2 percent, 46-48, and a shift of independent voters moving away from Bachmann.
“During Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s career in Washington, she has been more focused on being a national right-wing celebrity than on delivering for the Minnesota families she represents,” Israel said in a statement. “Voters are experiencing buyer’s remorse with Congresswoman Bachmann and her relentless desire to put ideology over solutions.”
