Peterson says he’s ‘conflicted’ over Clinton

For all the focus on which Republicans are standing with Donald Trump this year, there's also hesitance among some Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota and elsewhere about throwing their support to their nominee, Hillary Clinton.

U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, the dean of Minnesota's congressional district, won't commit to Clinton.

In a debate Wednesday with Republican challenger David Hughes on MPR News,  Peterson said he was "conflicted" about the presidential race.

"I'm with my constituents. Right now, I'm not happy with either choice. I was inching toward supporting Hillary Clinton until she came out and said she strongly favors implementing the Waters of the U.S., which would be a disaster," Peterson said. "So I'm back to being conflicted about the situation. I'm not going to support Trump."

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The EPA rule would set the terms of when the federal government would be able to step in to resolve clean water disputes. Some farmers worry that power will be abused and make more lands subject to regulation. Clinton said last month she supports the rule.

"I was very disappointed in that," Peterson said. "This is one of the most important issues for us in rural America. So it's troubling she said she would push this."

Trump has said he would work to eliminate the rule.

Hughes said he supports Trump for president though doesn't see eye-to-eye on all issues, including trade.

Trump is expected to run strong in the 7th Congressional District, which covers most of western Minnesota. Republican Mitt Romney won it handily in 2012 while Peterson romped in his own race. Peterson was targeted in 2014 but notched a comfortable win nonetheless.

Peterson has been lukewarm to Clinton throughout. He skipped this year's Democratic National Convention, but said he would have gone for her primary rival Bernie Sanders if he had attended as a superdelegate.