The National Rifle Association (NRA) has endorsed Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack's bid for a second term. The NRA had previously in 2010 endorsed veteran Democratic Congressman Jim Oberstar, who Cravaack beat in an upset.

The Duluth News-Tribune and Mesabi Daily News have endorsed former Duluth City Council President Jeff Anderson in the tightly contested 8th Congressional District DFL primary race. The Star Tribune, however, opted to back former state Sen. Tarryl Clark with its endorsement.

Michele Bachmann, running for her fourth term representing Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional district, pulled in just more than $1 million in the month of July, easily surpassing her fellow Minnesota Congressmen and women in total fundraising hauls, as well as her Democratic opponent Jim Graves, who raised $64,000 in that period.

Anything could happen in the DFL primary in the 8th Congressional District. Three challengers — Jeff Anderson, Tarryl Clark and Rick Nolan — are running credible campaigns, and turnout is expected to be extremely low for the mid-August primary.

Minnesota House and Senate candidates took in more than $6 million during the second quarter of 2012, according to reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann raked in the biggest haul at $1.9 million. That's more than six times the amount raised by DFL challenger Jim Graves in the Sixth Congressional District.

Freshman GOP U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack can now boast of being labor-endorsed. The International Union of Operating Engineers - Local 49 announced on Thursday that it's backing Cravaack in the 8th Congressional District contest.

DFL-endorsed candidate Mike Obermueller filed to run against GOP U.S. Rep. John Kline in the state's 2nd Congressional District on Monday afternoon, followed not long after by 8th Congressional District candidate and former state Sen. Tarryl Clark.

Rick Nolan will be getting a little help stocking his campaign war chest Wednesday evening in the nation's capital. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Fraken and the rest of Minnesota's DFL legislative delegation are scheduled to attend the fundraiser.

With DFLers in the 8th Congressional District set to hold their endorsing convention this weekend, Jeff Anderson announced he's got the support of two more northeastern Minnesota state legislators.

Next month DFL activists will gather in Duluth to endorse a candidate in the 8th Congressional District. The outcome is in little doubt: Former Congressman Rick Nolan is widely expected to walk away with party backing.