Democratic super PAC to target Bachmann and Kline in 2014

WASHINGTON - One of the most deep-pocketed Democratic outside spending groups of the 2012 campaign has put out a new list of House Republican lawmakers it plans to target in 2014, and Minnesota's Michele Bachmann and John Kline are both on it.

The House Majority PAC spent $35.4 million in the 2012 election cycle, mostly running negative ads against Republican House members, according the Center for Responsive Politics. The group spent nearly $1.5 million in Minnesota's 8th District in the successful effort to unseat U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack.

While Kline won his race last year against Democrat Mike Obermueller 54-46 percent, Democrats see an opening in the 2nd District because redistricting added Democratic-friendly areas such as South St. Paul to the district. Overall, the district also narrowly supported Barack Obama for president over GOP challenger Mitt Romney, a sign that a Democrat could take the seat.

Bachmann's district is far more conservative, having voted for Romney 56-41 percent, but her personal popularity in the area appears to have taken a hit. She only narrowly eked out a win against DFL challenger Jim Graves with a margin of a little more than 4,000 votes.

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