Cravaack fundraises off of debt ceiling vote

WASHINGTON - Freshman GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack is likely in the doghouse with the House Republican leadership after voting against Speaker John Boehner's bill to raise the debt ceiling and slash spending. That could mean no help from the party in what's expected to be a hotly-contested election for Cravaack's seat next year.

Instead, Cravaack's reelection campaign is capitalizing on his no vote against the party leadership, using it to raise money from supporters. In an email sent Saturday entitled "On My Own," Cravaack writes:

So now, I'm in a bit of a pickle. Big Labor Union Bosses, MoveOn.org, and other liberal special interests are increasing their attacks against me. Meanwhile the Republican establishment in Washington isn't happy that I stood on principle.

The email continues, challenging supporters to raise a collective $25,000 by Monday. A group of unions and liberal groups is running ads in Cravaack's 8th District, criticizing him for his stance against raising the debt ceiling.

Cravaack isn't the only Minnesota member to solicit donations using opposition to raising the debt ceiling as a key talking point. Rep. Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign has also used the debt limit vote to ask supporters for money.

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