A district away, Bachmann’s name invoked in Dem Hackett’s fundraising appeal

At the Star Tribune’s blog, Eric Roper offers proof that Rep. Michele Bachmann’s profile has risen: DFLer Maureen Hackett is invoking Bachmann’s name to fundraise for her congressional race — in an entirely different district. It’s proof, Roper says, that the Sixth District Republican is “the top target for liberals heading into 2010.”

In 2008, one measure of the high profile of Bachmann’s seat — by those who wanted to see her leave it, as well as those hoping she’d stay — was how much money changed hands. The district saw among the nation’s highest levels of  campaign fundraising and spending in the nation, according to new Federal Election Commission reports: Bachmann spent $3.6 million and raised $2.5 million in 2008, earning her rankings of 28th and 17th among incumbents nationwide, respectively; DFL challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg ranked 42nd out of 50, spending $2.5 million. (The race was dwarved by the battle between Al Franken and Norm Coleman, however; FEC reports show Franken took in $22.5 million, while Coleman received $19.3 million.)

But another measure of Bachmann’s stature is mention a district away in Democratic candidate Maureen Hackett’s campaign to unseat Third District Republican, Rep. Erik Paulsen. A new fundraising email from Hackett mentions Bachmann more times than it does Paulsen, Roper writes.

The appeal begins:

Erik Paulsen is on the National Republican Congressional Committee’s “Patriot” must-defend list for good reason. After campaigning in 2008 as an heir to the moderate and responsible legacy of Jim Ramstad, he’s spent his first year in Washington following in lock-step behind another well-known Minnesotan—Michele Bachmann.

While Bachmann’s extremism has won her great reviews from her right-wing base, it’s not acceptable here in the 3rd District. We have a long record of electing reasonable people from both sides of the aisle. By standing with Bachmann on the economy, health care and women’s rights, Paulsen has proven time-and-time again that he’s hopelessly and completely out-of-step with the people he was elected to represent.

Correction: This post originally attributed the Hackett story to the Strib’s Rachel Stassen-Berger, instead of to Roper, the paper’s Washington correspondent.