Democrats back Sartell mayor to run for Michele Bachmann seat

Minnesota Democrats endorsed Sartell Mayor Joe Perske to run for the 6th District congressional seat Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann is leaving at the end of the year.

Perske won the party backing Saturday over college professor Jim Read of Avon, Minnesota.  Read promised not to wage a primary campaign and backed Perske. Perske said delegates chose to endorse him because he's a good fit for the central Minnesota district.

"I grew up here," said Perske. "My ancestors were farmers here. My dad was  a union railroad worker for the Great Northern.  I've got cousins by the dozens here. I can relate well.  I fish. I hunt. I work hard.  I've been a coach.  I've been a teacher. I'm just so connected."

Republican Tom Emmer won the GOP endorsement to run in the 6th District but he faces two primary challengers.  In 2012 Democrat Jim Graves lost to Bachmann by just 1.2 percentage points and Democrats say the conservative district can be competitive again this fall.

Perske may have difficulty getting his message out if his fundraising doesn't improve. According to Federal Election Commission reports, Perske ended March with about $10,000 campaign money. Emmer had raised more than a quarter million dollars.

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