DFL Party leaders concerned about 8th District primary battle
Minnesota DFL Party Chair Ken Martin says he's disappointed two of the three Democrats running for Congress in the 8th District will not be abiding by the party's endorsement and instead will run in the August primary election.
In a letter to supporters today, Duluth city Council member Jeff Anderson said he will not to compete for the endorsement. Anderson writes that his support for the mining industry and job creation make the endorsement unattainable, and that a primary campaign is the only route for him.
"To win the DFL endorsement a candidate must be soft on the core issues that are most important to the voters of this district," Anderson wrote.
Of the three DFLers running, only former Rep. Rick Nolan has pledged to end his campaign if another Democrat wins the endorsement.
Earlier this month former State Sen. Tarryl Clark said she too would run in the DFL primary.
Party chair Martin says a primary battle will, "not only waste resources but also create an unnecessary distraction," from the goal of unseating first-term Republican Chip Cravaack.
Democrats consider Cravaack the most vulnerable Republican member of Minnesota's congressional delegation going into the 2012 elections.
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