Walz Makes the DCCC’s “Seats to Save” List

Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District has been designated as one of 29 “frontline” seats for 2008 by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, according to a story by CQPolitics.com. Walz scored a stunning 7-point victory over incumbent Gil Gutknecht in 2006. Many Republicans feel that Walz is vulnerable in this district that voted for Bush in 2004 and re-elected Gutknecht five times, in many cases by overwhelming margins.

District observers credit Walz’s victory to a number of factors, including:

• His 24-year service in the Minnesota National Guard.
• His personal appeal and enthusiastic, nearly two-year long campaign.
• Voter displeasure with the war in Iraq. One of Walz’s central campaign themes was to challenge the war.
• His opposition to the proposed $2.3 billion loan for the DM&E railroad. The Mayo Clinic, the City of Rochester, Olmsted County and the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce (normally a rock-ribbed Republican stronghold) all opposed DM&E coal trains coming through Rochester.
• TV ad support from outside groups like the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and VoteVets.org.
• Critical last-minute support from the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
• Solid grassroots support.
  
• Gutknecht’s early overconfidence in victory.

While there are other reasons for Walz’s success, Republicans are hoping that the two key issues that turned the tide for him