Clark has clear path now that Reed drops out…
Maureen Reed, a DFL candidate for Congress in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District, announced today that she's dropping out of the race. Reed said in a statement that a prolonged primary fight would only help GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann win reelection.
"It is with a heavy heart that I am suspending operations in my campaign for Congress in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District. During the past few days, I have come to the conclusion that a prolonged primary fight only assists Michele Bachmann. The other DFL challenger, Tarryl Clark, has amassed more resources, and I feel that it is time for the DFL to unify behind one candidate in this race..."
Reed's decision creates a clear path for DFL state Sen. Tarryl Clark. Clark won the DFL endorsement for Congress and also secured the support of labor. Here's a statement from Clark's team:
Today, a spirited competitor has exited the race for Congress. Our thorough discussion with voters of the challenges that face the people of the 6th Congressional District and what it will take to defeat our opponent in November has built a strong, winning foundation for the DFL this fall.
Though we disagreed at times, we always had the same goal - taking back our communities from Waite Park to Blaine to Stillwater and everywhere in between. We both saw that Washington, and our current member of Congress, are simply not working for us. We talked to workers who had lost their jobs and heard frustration from those whose homes had been foreclosed. And we agreed that Michele Bachmann's jet setting to celebrity appearances would not solve these challenges.
And it is because we possessed the common goal of restoring real representation and getting the people's work done, that I am honored by and thankful for Maureen Reed's endorsement. Dr. Reed's supporters and volunteers did a tremendous amount of work to help defeat Michele Bachmann in November, and I invite and encourage them to continue those efforts with our team. Working together as a united DFL, I am even more confident that we will win - and give the 6th District the representation it deserves in Congress.
The race in Minnesota's 6th District is likely to be the most competitive and expensive Congressional race this year. Both Bachmann and Clark have been raising money at a rapid clip.
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