National Dems say they’ll back Graves in race against Bachmann
WASHINGTON - With just over three weeks to go before Election Day, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will get more involved in Jim Graves' attempt to unseat Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.
The DCCC announced Monday that it has added Graves and Minnesota's 6th District to its "Red to Blue" list of competitive U.S. House races. That means the group will provide Graves with additional logistical and fundraising support while also airing ads against Bachmann.
Polling paid for by the Graves campaign suggests a tight race between the hotel entrepreneur and the tea party Republican incumbent. Still, Graves faces an uphill battle as the 6th District is the biggest stronghold for Minnesota Republicans and became more conservative after redistricting earlier this year.
Graves is also following a well-worn path that previous Bachmann competitors have trod. Former state Sen. Tarryl Clark and Elwyn Tinkelberg also joined the DCCC "Red to Blue" program for their unsuccessful tries against Bachmann.
Last week, Bachmann announced that she had raised $4.5 million for her re-election in the third quarter, a sum that has dwarfed every other Minnesota congressional candidate who's reported their fundraising so far. The Graves campaign has not yet announced how much it brought in. The deadline for reporting fundraising is midnight Monday.
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