Minnesota to be part of massive union, PAC ad buy

The Service Employees International Union and House Majority PAC are teaming up to spend nearly $900,000 on ads targeting competitive congressional races in the Minneapolis area.

The planned Minneapolis market purchase is part of a $20 million ad buy in 38 markets launched today by the union and the political action committee, which is aimed at electing Democrats to the U.S. House.

It's unclear exactly when the ads will air and which congressional races the ads will target, said Andy Stone a spokesman for House Majority PAC.

But several districts are candidates. Though Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack's Democratic competitor hasn't been chosen yet, the Rothenburg Political Report rates the 8th Congressional District race as a "pure toss-up."

House Majority PAC has already spent money on ads targeting Cravaack's record on Medicare.

Democrats are also showing interest in the 2nd Congressional District, where Republican Rep. John Kline is facing a challenge from Democrat Mike Obermueller. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has said it plans to spend money helping Obermueller with his campaign.

The Minneapolis television market trickles into Wisconsin, too, where Democrats view races in the state's 7th Congressional District and 8th Congressional District as competitive.

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