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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?

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Paulsen wins in 3rd Congressional District

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By Andy Birkey | 11.02.10 | 9:13 pm

Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen won reelection in Minnesota’s Third Congressional District on Tuesday night, with the Associated Press calling the race about an hour after polls closed. At that time, Paulsen led DFLer Jim Meffert 58 percent to 37 percent with 80 percent of Hennepin County reporting.

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Paulsen’s new TV ad, website attacks ‘big spender’ Meffert

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By Andy Birkey | 10.07.10 | 8:58 am

Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen’s new ad, released Wednesday, targets his DFL opponent Jim Meffert. The ad calls Meffert a “big spender” and says that he wants to cut Medicare by $500 million. The ad is similar to one Paulsen released last week and is accompanied by a new website, TheRealMeffert.com.

New Paulsen ad criticizes Meffert

By Andy Birkey | 09.27.10 | 8:14 am

Rep. Erik Paulsen released a new television ad late last week that attacks DFL opponent Jim Meffert for supporting “high taxes” and health care reform. The ad asks, “Why is Jim Meffert running a negative campaign?” It then goes on…

Meffert files ethics complaint against Paulsen

By Andy Birkey | 09.22.10 | 7:09 am

DFL candidate Jim Meffert filed an ethics complaint with the House Ethics Committee on Tuesday charging that Rep. Erik Paulsen, his Republican opponent, falsified information in an official House communication with district residents. The Meffert campaign is taking issue with a tax-payer funded mailer that shows a graph of the national deficit, claiming that the graph is purposefully distorted.

Some pundits eye Paulsen/Meffert race as potential DFL pickup

By Andy Birkey | 09.14.10 | 8:30 am

While most eyes are focused on Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District and the spectacle that is already Rep. Michele Bachmann vs. Sen. Tarryl Clark, some political watchers see a potential battle in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District between freshmen Republican Rep. Erik…

Paulsen releases first television ad: ‘Kids’

By Andy Birkey | 09.09.10 | 12:00 pm

Rep. Erik Paulsen released his first television ad of the 2010 campaign cycle on Thursday. The ad, titled “Kids,” highlights Paulsen’s math skills and features his four daughters. “Balancing the budget can be achieved by spending less,” he says.…

Paulsen’s moderate cred called into question at town hall

By Paul Schmelzer | 08.03.10 | 1:14 pm

Updated, with video: The person dressed as a dog marked “Erik Paulsen, Michele Bachmann’s lap dog” may not have been the most surprising attendee at Paulsen’s town hall meeting in Edina last night. His DFL challenger for the 3rd Congressional…

PoliTweeps: A ‘bitter Minnesota,’ a startled deer, an ‘outrageous’ RNC speaker

By Paul Schmelzer | 07.30.10 | 12:34 pm

In today’s survey of Minnesota’s political Twittersphere, conservatives try to stain the Alliance for a Better Minnesota with a spoof Twitter account, a Wellstone Action organizer questions Michele

Paulsen outraises Meffert nine to one

By Patrick Caldwell | 07.16.10 | 3:40 pm

Rep. Erik Paulsen is dominating the fundraising game in his reelection campaign, according to FEC records released Thursday. He has out-raised his Democratic opponent Jim Meffert by a nine-to-one margin.