On eve of election, money continues to pour in

Tomorrow is Election Day, but there's still plenty of time for candidates to raise money - and for their supporters to spend money on their behalf.

In the 8th Congressional District, where DFL Rep. Rick Nolan is facing a challenge from Republican Stewart Mills, gun rights groups and Democrats in Washington have poured roughly $450,000 into the race since last Friday. Some of those expenditures are part of ad buys planned months in advance.

All told, political groups unaffiliated with either candidate have spent more than $12 million on the 8th Congressional District race.

West of the Iron Range in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District, DFL U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson is in the toughest race of his career against Republican Torrey Westrom. That race has attracted more than $8 million so far, with more than $137,000 coming in over the weekend.

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The Minnesota Senate race between Sen. Al Franken and Republican Mike McFadden is seeing its share of last minute spending, too.

Minnesota's statewide candidates have been busy raising money in the final days of the election (final spending numbers on those races won't be available until next year).

Gov. Mark Dayton, who is running against Republican Jeff Johnson, raised an additional $18,000 since late last week. Meanwhile, Johnson raised an additional $16,000 in that same period of time.

The liberal group Alliance for a Better Minnesota has received more than $100,000 since late last week to defend Dayton and the DFL controlled Minnesota House.

The Minnesota Jobs Coalition, which is levying attacks on vulnerable DFL House members, has raised an additional $60,000 in the last few days. Half of that came from the Washington, D.C.-based Republican State Leadership Committee, which has already given the group $325,000 to spend promoting Republicans running for the Minnesota House.