Dccc

Poll numbers released by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Thursday show Rep. Michele Bachmann leading Elwyn Tinklenberg by 4 points. Bachmann garnered the support of 42 percent of those polled while Tinklenberg had 38 percent. The poll says Bachmann’s approval rating in the 6th Congressional is at 34 percent.

A flashpoint in the 3rd Congressional District mini-debate on TPT’s Almanac program Friday (video) was Republican candidate Erik Paulsen’s charge that DFL candidate Ashwin Madia has illegally coordinated his campaign with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, an independent group. Madia denied it and challenged Paulsen for proof. State Rep. Paulsen produced from his breast pocket [...]

The National Republican Congressional Committee has continued to cut back on its planned TV advertising buys in Minnesota, with a second week of ads canceled in the 3rd Congressional District and a week called off for the first time in the 6th as well. That’s the situation at KSTP and, according to MPR’s Polinaut blog, [...]

U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., came to the Twin Cities today to support DFL congressional candidate Ashwin Madia in his bid to replace retiring Republican 3rd District U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad. Emanuel lavished praise on Madia as the sort of practical politician who would be welcomed in the House Democratic caucus, which Emanuel leads. Both are sons of immigrants, with names that not everyone can spell, who in the course of their congressional campaigns have been called “carpetbagger.” In a separate press conference across town today, Ramstad himself assailed Madia and Democratic groups supporting him for engaging in “gutter politics.”

MnIndy video and more after the jump.

DFLer Ashwin Madia holds a five-point lead over Republican state Rep. Erik Paulsen in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District race, according to results of a new poll released Monday by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). It’s a sizable swing from Paulsen’s three-point lead in an independent poll six weeks ago. But as in that survey, the difference in Monday’s results between the leading candidates — Madia with 44 percent to Paulsen’s 39 — is within the poll’s percent margin of error. More after the jump, including a Republican ad retreat; courting business; and dueling national endorsements.

The knives are out in the 3rd District congressional race. A new Ashwin Madia attack ad answers Sen. Erik Paulsen’s, a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee mailing reaches with a strip-club charge, and a Paulsen stand-in plays up Madia’s marital and residential status (single, renter) and calls him “carpetbagger.”

Joe Bodell of Minnesota Campaign Report and The UpTake interviewed 3rd Congressional District candidate Ashwin Madia prior to Barack Obama’s speech at last night’s rally. Madia discusses his campaign, the Iraq War and possible debates with his Republican opponent Erik Paulsen.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., announced that 3rd District DFL congressional candidate Ashwin Madia will be added to the DCCC’s Red to Blue program today. Madia will receive financial, communications and strategic support. In 2006, the program raised nearly $22.6 million for 56 campaigns.

“Congressman [Jim] Ramstad’s retirement and Ashwin Madia’s [...]