NRCC MEMO: MINNESOTA PRIMARY RESULTS
August 15, 2012
TO: INTERESTED PARTIES
FROM: NRCC POLITICAL AND NRCC COMMUNICATIONS
DATE: AUGUST 15, 2012
SUBJECT: MINNESOTA PRIMARY RESULTS
There are 83 days left until Election Day and Minnesota Republicans have locked in a strong hold over the state. While Democrats are circling their wagons to figure out how they will message their way out of wasteful and massive tax and spend policies, Republicans are soaring with their message of fiscal and social conservatism.
INCUMBENT
MN-08: Chip Cravaack (R) vs. Rick Nolan (D)
The Eighth District has had a strong and disciplined representative in Chip Cravaack. The leadership displayed by Chip Cravaack has brought a breath of fresh air and hands-on moderate approach to Minnesota after years of complacent representation. Cravaack’s fight for Polymet jobs and his “Buy American” initiatives have been widely received by the hardworking families of this district. Cravaack’s seamless ability to cross party lines and garner support from the 49ers has also been an example of his leadership for Minnesota and aversion to partisan politics.
In Minnesota, the DFL has lost touch with the voters of the Eighth District and their fear of never being able to recover this district has become obvious. Their recruitment process to replace Chip Cravaack has unfortunately come up short and the brutal primary race has left the Democrat nominee bruised and without a campaign coffer. Chip Cravaack holds a commanding fundraising edge with $898,681 COH to Rick Nolan’s abysmal $93,435 COH.
The DFL’s only hope for replacing Chip Cravaack is with ex-Congressman Rick Nolan who has a record of supporting job-destroying policies and ultra-liberal ideas while in Congress more than three decades ago. A proud supporter of Planned Parenthood and a self-proclaimed Pro-Choice candidate, Nolan has become increasingly more liberal in his time away from the halls of Congress. Nolan’s radical idea for cutting 50 percent of the defense budget has also garnered great concern in his run for Congress. Voters grew weary of Nolan’s Congressional performance once before when they rejected him while Jimmy Carter was President, and this time will be no different. The DFL’s prospects of winning back this seat has greatly diminished with the brutal primary battle and the lackluster candidate they have.
District Facts: PVI: D+3; The Cook Political Report rates this race as a Toss Up and The Rothenberg Political Report rates this race as a Pure Toss Up/Tilt Republican. The district covers northeast Minnesota including the Iron Range, Duluth and Bemidji.
Other Incumbents:
Reps. John Kline, Michele Bachmann and Erik Paulsen are not facing serious challenges in their respective bids for re-election and are considered safe heading into the fall.
STATEWIDE ROUNDUP
The following are the unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election in Minnesota. These results are unofficial and incomplete.
*Indicates Winner determined by AP
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MN-08 – DEM Primary
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649 of 812 Precincts Reporting – 80%
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Richard Nolan *
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40%
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Tarryl Clark
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32%
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Jeff Anderson
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28%
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