Race in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District Tightens

Implies Shift in Constituent Views

By Casey Dainsberg (STORY #5)

As Nov. 2 draws steadily closer, eyes are turning to the close race in Minnesota’s 8^th Congressional District. Incumbent Rep, Jim Oberstar (D) has held this seat for the last 34 years and is being challenged by Rep. Chip Cravaack. The 8^th Cong. District has not had a Republican representative since the 1940’s, and it has been years since a Republican challenger has come so close to uprooting a very entrenched DFL presence in the the 8th Distrcit U.S. House seat.

Oberstar was born and raised on the Iron Range. Since winning the 8^th District’s Congressional seat in 1974, and now in his 17^th term, he has become the longest-serving Minnesota congressmen in the history of the state. According to his legislative Web site, Oberstar is considered an expert on transportation policy, and he is currently the chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. On his campaign Web site, he references $196 million brought back for Minnesota families and he has concentrated much of his efforts to create and preserve roads and trails to promote tourism in the state and district.

Cravaack served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot for much of his career, earning many awards. He has earned a bachelor’s degree in science from the United State Naval Academy and also a master’s in education from the University of West Florida. After he retired from the Navy, he worked as a pilot for Northwest Airlines.

These two political race horses have created a contest much closer than what has been experienced in past years, resulting in national attention. A seat that was once considered nearly impossible to take might just be up for grabs. Recent internal polling paid for by Cravaack's campaign was done by Public Opinion Strategies and places Cravaack just three points behind Rep. Oberstar-a number within the margin of error. Joe Kimball, in an article written for the Website MinnPost, says that Oberstar dismissed this poll, pointing to the fact that it was paid for by his opponent.

However, in the days following the publication of this poll, the Cook Political Report, an independent publication reclassified the district, moving it from “likely Democratic” to “Leaning Democratic," a move which might just reinforce the findings of the poll conducted by the POS.  

Reportedly, Rep. Oberstar’s ability to raise money is declining with only 2% of his receipts coming from inside the district. Jonathan Allen writes for Polico, that “he raised more money in Texas 27th District, a Mexican border area hoping for help with Interstate 69, than in Minnesota's 8th, where he's from.” Brandon Stahl of the Duluth News Tribune writes that Cravaack has outraised Oberstar three to one within the 8th District.

A yellow flag was also raised, indicated in the response by constituents in a debate between the two candidates in Duluth last week. The crowd of 1,800 were vigorous in their vocalizing, particularly by heckling of the candidates, and seemed ardent in  directing their frustration towards the incumbent. An article covering the debate in the Duluth News Tribune reported that Rep. Oberstar responded to the crowd by retorting, ““I gather they don’t like to hear the truth.” “I read the bill!” “There they go again.” “Come on.” And, “My goodness, no civility at all.” Also at one point, the crowd reacted to a reference made about global warming and Oberstar said, “I’m sorry if the flat-Earth society over here doesn’t believe it.”

Minnesota Public Radio News quoted Dr. Linda Krug, an associate professor of communications at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, who was surprised at the large turnout, as well as the crowds cheers and jeers.  "I heard that and I thought, 'oh my, I think the vote could be a lot closer than people think,' " She was quoted saying.

Bob Kelleher, a reporter for Minnesota Public Radio News in Duluth states in an e-mail in response to a question of his observations of the past and current race: “What’s changed is the size of the 8th district, which now encompasses counties closer to Central Minnesota and the Twin Cities - a region that's understood to be much more conservative than the traditionally liberal and DFL northeast Minnesota Arrowhead.” he also believes that Cravaack's success is attributed to a well organized Tea Party movement and public record upon which to challenge him.

Kelleher also points to their political strategies, saying that "To my ear Cravaack spouts the Republican party line. He's well trained and he parrots the party themes well. He's careful to combine references to Oberstar with the names Obama and Nancy Pelosi." He also refers to Cravacck calling Rep. Oberstar "Sir", saying it is "a charade of respect, which is actually intended to identify Oberstar as 'old.'"

Another factor contributing to Cravaack's success is, as Kelleher went on to say in his e-mail, due to the fact that Oberstar "doesn't actually play politics very well. He talks way too much; offers way too many boring facts; and continuously brags about bringing federal projects to the district." Kelleher went on to explain that "people are genuinely concerned about a bloated federal budget and growing deficit that may not be as endearing as it once was."  

The Duluth Tribune endorsed Cravaack. Acknowledging the changing times, they wrote, "The brake pedal of fiscal responsibility is needed in Washington now as much as ever... the 17-term incumbent is hardly the embodiment of financial restraint and new direction." Cravaack is described as being "articulate, reasoned and composed. More critically, he has specific and promising strategies to pull the nation out of its financial funk."

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Congressman Jim Oberstar (D)  is the incumbent candidate
running for re-election in the 8th Congressional District.
(Photo from Oberstar's Campaign Web site)

Polls suggest Chip Cravaack (R) is a viable
candidate to challenge incument Jim Oberstar come Nov. 2
(Photo from Cravaack's Campaign Web site)