The main group opposing the proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage has raised $2.56 million since the close of the pre-primary reporting period in July. Since the group's founding after the marriage amendment was passed by state legislators in 2011, the group has raised by $8.2 million.

A survey released Wednesday shows Gingrich with a 36 percent to 18 percent lead over rival Mitt Romney.

The news comes days after Bachmann's first public appearance in Minnesota at a pro-life rally marking the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Klobuchar's approval rating is at 61 percent, with just 28 percent disapproving. According to the pollster, only five sitting senators are more popular right now.

Jeff Blodgett, who stepped down as executive director of Wellstone Action last January, is the chair of a new independent expenditure organization, 2012 Fund.

The seat is currently held by another Republican – freshman Rep. Branden Petersen – but Benz expects her hometown of Coon Rapids to be redistricted into an open legislative seat next year.

The city planner of Pine City, Minn., Nathan Johnson, has filed to run as a DFLer against Crawford in central Minnesota's House District 8B.

Thomas DeGree, the owner of Wilde Roast Cafe in Minneapolis, and TakeAction Minnesota health care organizer Ann Marie Metzger have both registered with the campaign finance board to run in the district.

Architect and activist Raymond Dehn announced Monday on his Facebook page and in a news release that he will run for the House District 58B seat, which currently covers part of north and downtown Minneapolis.

Attorney Dennis Smith doesn't plan to take on House Speaker Kurt Zellers; he anticipates that the state's new political maps will place them in different districts ahead of the 2012 election.