Walz goes positive in final, catchall ad

Rep. Tim Walz released his last ad of the election Wednesday afternoon with a straightforward-seeming piece that serves several functions. It leaves voters with a final upbeat view of the incumbent; presents his regular-guy cred while underscoring his bio (“I’ve been a lot of things in my life: football coach, soldier, teacher, dad. But I’m not a career politician.”), informs voters about election day and polling place hours, and runs down a list of his endorsements and accomplishments. It ends with a direct appeal: “I’d be honored to have your vote.”

NRCC continues to attack Tim Walz in 1st District

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is out with a new negative ad against Democratic Rep. Tim Walz. The commercial ties the 1st Congressional District incumbent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and attacks him for the level of national spending during the recession. “Nancy Pelosi and Tim Walz are making it worse. With a national energy tax that would hit farmer, small businesses and seniors hard,” the ad’s narrator states, referring to Walz’s vote in favor of cap-and-trade legislation.

Dems target Paulsen for voting no on health-care bill

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…

Holtz pondered Congress, now says he’ll keep Perpich pledge: no politics

One-time University of Minnesota football coach Lou Holtz now says he’s not mulling a run for Congress in Florida, as reported. If so, he’d be keeping a promise made in 1983 to the late Rudy…

Bachmann joins Paulsen on GOP’s most-vulnerable-incumbents list

The National Republican Congressional Committee has added another Minnesota representative to its list of most vulnerable incumbents for 2010: Rep. Michele Bachmann joins Rep. Erik Paulsen in the NRCC’s “Patriot Program,” Roll Call reports.

Paulsen on NRCC’s ‘Patriot Program’ for vulnerable incumbents

The National Republican Campaign Committee announced on Tuesday the list of vulnerable incumbents in its Patriot Program, a campaign program designed to bring resources and high-profile Republicans to save seats in…

Republicans agree with Franken on letting parties raise election contest cash

Three Republican groups are telling the federal government they agree with Democrat Al Franken on something: There should be more ways for donors to send more dollars to support the rivals in Minnesota’s ongoing U.S. Senate election contest.

Roll Call: Republicans pay a pittance to chip at 3rd District Dillon support

UPDATED: Roll Call reports that the National Republican Congressional Committee is putting $11,200 into mailings meant to reduce voter support for David Dillon, the Independence Party candidate who’s running a distant third in the 3rd Congressional District race. A scan of the piece and more after the jump.

KARE-TV finds Republican attack ad made Madia’s skin look darker

A KARE-TV report probes a recent ad from the National Republican Congressional Committee in which visual effects make Democratic congressional candidate Ashwin Madia’s skin darker.

This comes after state Republican officials held press conferences last month to highlight demographic differences between Indian-American Madia and residents of the 3rd Congressional District — in contrast to their own candidate, state Rep. Erik Paulsen, who is “one of them.” Video and more after the jump.

CD 3: New Madia ad arrives, and local newspapers endorse Madia and Paulsen

In the race to replace retiring 3rd District U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, Democrat Ashwin Madia has released a new TV ad titled “Check It Out,” contrasting his own economic positions (identified on screen with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s) with…