Cravaack, Clark, Walz pick up major endorsements

With a week before the election, major daily newspapers and high-profile officials are making their picks for Nov. 2. Democratic state Sen. Tarryl Clark and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz both grabbed endorsements from the state’s largest newspaper on Sunday, and Independence Party candidate for governor Tom Horner gained the support of the Pioneer Press. Walz also got the nod from Republican former Gov. Arne Carlson over the weekend, while GOP candidate Chip Cravaack picked up the endorsement of the Duluth paper.

The Star Tribune’s endorsement listed a good number of Clark’s accomplishments — but it took three paragraphs of complaints about Rep. Michele Bachmann’s performance in Congress before it got to them.

“Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has appeared at least eight times since January on Fox News’ Sean Hannity Show,” the paper said. “How many mayors or county commissioners in Bachmann’s Sixth District swath of central Minnesota have had an equal number of conversations with her this year?”

Walz got the nod from the Strib this weekend as well.

“Walz has been a stellar advocate for veterans, responsive to his region’s key employers and consistently earned high marks from local officials for his assistance on matters small and large, particularly the weather-related disasters that have hit this district,” wrote the paper’s editorial board. “He’s more than earned the right to represent this swath of southern Minnesota for another two years.”

Likewise, Walz got the support of former Gov. Carlson, who calls the Democratic incumbent “the clear choice” in the First Congressional District race.

“I’m continually impressed with Tim’s leadership and his ability to bring people together in southern Minnesota communities,” Carlson said. “It is clear that people identify with Tim’s experience as a teacher, veteran and football coach and I think that helps them lay aside partisan predispositions and join with Tim to solve problems.”

Carlson has already thrown his weight behind IP candidate Horner, who continued racking up endorsements. The Pioneer Press joined the Star Tribune, Forum Communications paper and ECM Publishers in backing his gubernatorial run.

Walz also got the endorsement of the Rochester Post-Bulletin and the Albert Lea Tribune last week.

Republican Chip Cravaack also scored an upset endorsement from the Duluth News Tribune, a paper that traditionally backs Rep. James Oberstar.

Oberstar cried foul on the paper, which skipped face-to-face meetings this year in exchange for a raucous debate. TheUpTake caught up with him this weekend:

The Duluth News Tribune, however, disputed Oberstar’s criticisms: