In the race to replace retiring 3rd District U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, Democrat Ashwin Madia has released a new TV ad titled “Check It Out,” contrasting his own economic positions (identified on screen with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s) with those of Republican state Rep. Erik Paulsen, whose policies it ties to President Bush. The ad arrives as the National Republican Congressional Committee is again flooding the airwaves with its own ads to help Paulsen, and Democratic cash from around the country is flooding into the 6th Congressional District next door for Elwyn Tinklenberg’s effort to unseat outspoken 6th District U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Also today, two local print news outlets made endorsements — one for Paulsen and one for Madia. See the video and read excerpts after the jump.

Madia for Congress: “Check It Out”

From the Eden Prairie News:

In the Third District, Independence Party candidate David Dillon and DFL candidate Ashwin Madia both offer good ideas and are excellent candidates, but Erik Paulsen gets the nod, for his consistent service to the community, his 14 years of experience and his record. Paulsen has spearheaded initiatives supporting doing business with India and encouraging the study of Mandarin Chinese in Minnesota school districts, showing a global focus. He has pledged to work in a bipartisan way. Dillon raises the hope that reform could come to Washington in the form of independent voices not beholden to a party or lobby. We hope to hear more from him, especially on solutions for economic and immigration issues. All candidates should have a “humor” section on their Web sites, as he does.

From the ECM Editorial Board’s endorsement carried in the Coon Rapids Herald:

It was apparent from those interviews that all three [including Independence Party candidate David Dillon] seem to want to continue the Frenzel-Ramstad mold, but in our view Madia, a former Republican, offers the best hope that this tradition of moderation and bipartisanship will continue. … Indeed, Madia talks like a deficit hawk and says he is willing to work with both sides, including conservative bluedog Democrats and moderate Republicans, to achieve a balance budget. … But Madia has a unique understanding of the situation in Iraq because he served a tour of duty in that country as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. A lawyer by profession, his role was to help the Iraqis put in place a new legal system. … Change is needed in Congress and while it was close call, Madia is a better fit for the 3rd Congressional District than Paulsen.