Minnesota Independent

Rep. Chip Cravaack. Photo: MNGOP, Flickr

Dems, liberal groups target Cravaack, Bachmann on Medicare changes

By Andy Birkey | 04.18.11 | 1:44 pm

The Republican budget proposal that passed the House on Friday would significantly change the way Medicare operates, and those House members who voted for it are taking heat from Democrats and liberal groups. In Duluth, a billboard urges Cravaack not to privatize Medicare, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) says that Bachmann voted to “end Medicare.” But are these claims accurate?

DCCC tries to tie Rep. Paulsen to Barton BP apology

By Andy Birkey | 06.24.10 | 2:03 pm

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says it will be targeting Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen over what they say is support by Republicans for BP. Specifically, the group is targeting vulnerable Republicans who have not denounced Rep. Joe…

National Democrats target Bachmann, Palin ahead of fundraiser

By Andy Birkey | 04.07.10 | 8:16 am

The national Democratic party is wasting no time in attacking Rep. Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin ahead of this afternoon’s fundraiser featuring the conservative duo. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has launched a quiz asking users to identify which quotes…

Dems target Paulsen for voting no on health-care bill

By Chris Steller | 11.09.09 | 1:38 pm

U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen is one of 33 Republicans in Congress who have “a giant target on their back” after voting against an overhaul of health-care system Saturday. That’s according to the Democratic National Committee, which announced…

DCCC to hit Paulsen, Bachmann on health care

By Andy Birkey | 07.31.09 | 11:18 am

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced Friday it’s produced an ad campaign taking aim at seven vulnerable Republican House members over health care reform. Radio ads in Minnesota, the only state…

‘Right-leaning conservative’ mulls Bachmann rematch

By Paul Schmelzer | 07.24.09 | 10:43 am

Things are heating up in the race to unseat 6th District Rep. Michele Bachmann: Democrat Maureen Reed raised $230,000 in the two months following her announcement to run; past challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg says he’ll be in the Democratic primary whether he gets the DFL nod or not; and state Sen. Tarryl Clark is expected to announce her candidacy soon. Another twist: Third-party candidate Bob Anderson — who garnered 10 percent of the vote in the 2008 election — is seriously considering running again.

Paulsen campaign paid his wife, nicked Dem rival for not having one

By Chris Steller | 05.13.09 | 3:04 pm

U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen’s campaign paid his wife more than $10,000 in the last five months of 2008, according to Federal Election Commission records. (No such revelations about his DFL opponent, a bachelor.)

Dems offer online form letter with drop-down apologies to Limbaugh

By Chris Steller | 03.04.09 | 11:23 am

Democrats have invented an online tool that generates apology letters to Rush Limbaugh with a series of drop-down menus for filling in the blanks.

Paulsen’s stimulus claims show political prevaricating didn’t stay in Vegas

By Chris Steller | 02.25.09 | 12:14 pm

False political smears involving Las Vegas? You’d think U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen wouldn’t want to go there after being on the receiving end of a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ad last year that took a tortured, six-degrees-of-Kevin-Bacon route to link…

Bachmann lashes out at critics

By Andy Birkey | 02.24.09 | 12:14 am

“The DCCC is after me again!” read a fund-raising e-mail Rep. Michele Bachmann sent to supporters Monday afternoon. It’s the first time Bachmann has acknowledged — at least implicitly — the…