DCCC and RNCC to Target 1st CD

The press across the nation today indicates that the Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District is now on the DCCC’s (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee; also called “the D-trip”) radar.  First, the Washington Post:

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) has privately signed off on targeting a new group of GOP incumbents who were once considered safe for reelection, starting with Rep. Gil Gutknecht in rural Minnesota, officials said.

Congressional Quarterly also wrote a good piece analyzing the increasingly tight race.  ABC News’ “Political Radar” said a day ago what the above WaPo article says.  And the Mankato Free Press confirms that the NRCC (National Republican Congressional Committee) is also moving into the 1st:

In two new battlegrounds, Republicans began airing television ads in races in Pennsylvania and Minnesota that were not previously considered competitive. The National Republican Congressional Committee reported it would spend $100,398 to help GOP Rep. Gil Gutknecht’s re-election race in Minnesota against Democratic challenger, Tim Walz. Democrats signaled they would begin airing ads in that rural Midwest district as well.

All indications that the 1st district is now seen as truly competitive by both major parties.  A surprising turn around from the same time last year when this race was seen as relatively safe. (Hat-tip to Polinaut)