In 2008, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann won re-election by just four percentage points in the state's most GOP-friendly congressional district. The flamboyant Republican was nearly undone in the waning days of the campaign by comments suggesting that there should be an inquiry into which members of Congress hold "anti-American" views. But there was another factor at play in the race: Independence Party candidate Bob Anderson.

Attempting to figure out how many Minnesotans consider themselves members of the burgeoning Tea Party movement is as close to impossible an election-year task as trying to predict which way uncommitted convention delegates are going to jump.

Two Democrats – Maureen Hackett and Jim Meffert – are vying for the DFL endorsement to take on U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen. Party activists will decide which candidate gets the nod when they gather for the Third Congressional District convention on April 10. Both challengers have promised to abide by the endorsement and forego a primary challenge.

A new Minnesota-based political action committee, the Residents for Accuracy and Truth PAC (or its catchier acronym, the RAT PAC), has set up operations with a goal of defeating U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., in November.

Tickets for an April 7 rally featuring former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., are now available, the Minnesota Republican Party announced this morning.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will host a fundraising event in Minneapolis April 7 for U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., who is seeking her third term in the House.

Tarryl Clark was initially elected to the state Senate five years ago in a special election. She then easily won re-election in 2006 and emerged as a key DFL leader in the ensuing years. Now Clark is looking to unseat U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann in the 6th Congressional District.

Maureen Reed and Tarryl Clark both unveiled maps in the last 24 hours of U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's travels across the country. The gist of the message from the DFL congressional challengers: Bachmann is more interested in raising her national profile than working on behalf of constituents in the 6th Congressional District.

Eight Minnesota legislative incumbents -- five DFLers and three Republicans -- are facing challenges from members of their own parties this year, not counting six incumbents who have said that they aren't seeking re-election and have fellow party members lining up to succeed them.

Americans United for Change, a progressive advocacy group, has rolled out a new radio ad that criticizes U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., for her recent suggestion that Americans be "weaned off" of Social Security and Medicare.