House '12

Minnesota Rep. Cravaack's Family Is Moving -- To New Hampshire

Eric Kleefeld | July 18, 2011, 10:02AM

Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN)

Freshman Minnesota Congressman Chip Cravaack, a Republican who defeated long-time Democratic Rep. Jim Oberstar in a massive upset during the 2010 Republican wave, will now be traveling frequently to New Hampshire. But it's not because he's running for president -- in fact, his family is moving there.

As the Star Tribune reports, Cravaack's wife Traci works as an executive at a medical company, and her job has involved frequent travel to Boston. She has just gotten a promotion and will now be moving to New England.

For his part, Cravaack is leaving their old house, but also buying another home in the district and thus maintaining residency in Minnesota as required by the Constitution. He will maintain his in-district work schedule in Minnesota, but also plans to travel to New Hampshire in order to his family on his Sundays off.

House Majority PAC

Democratic Super PAC Sticks GOPers With Ryan Budget In Ad Blitz (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 27, 2011, 6:00AM

U.S. Capitol building

On the heels of the $20 million economic-themed ad blitz by Karl Rove's political money machine this week, Democrats are taking to the air with their own attack ad campaign targeting Republicans over the budget.

The six-figure campaign by House Majority PAC, a Super PAC which can take in unlimited amounts from donors thanks to the Citizens United ruling, launches Monday with ads taking on eight Republican members of Congress across the country.

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MN-08

Former Bachmann Opponent Clark To Switch Districts, Challenge GOPer Cravaack

Eric Kleefeld | May 9, 2011, 10:42AM

Former state Sen. Tarryl Clark (D-MN) and U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN)

Former Minnesota state Sen. Tarryl Clark (D), who ran unsuccessfully against Republican star Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in 2010, is now setting her sights on Congress again -- in the neighboring district of freshman GOPer Chip Cravaack.

Cravaack won a major upset victory in the historically Democratic 8th District against a longtime Dem incumbent, Rep. Jim Oberstar, winning by a 48%-47% margin. In the more Republican 6th District, Bachmann defeated Clark by 53%-40%. In that race, Clark raised $4.6 million for her effort to unseat a GOP lightning rod.

As the Duluth News Tribune reports, Clark is buying a home in the 8th District, though in fact her current hometown is near the border and could potentially end up being drawn in there after redistricting is done. But she is taking no chances on that score:

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Medicare

Significant New Progressive Ad Campaign Targets Republicans For Voting To End Medicare (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | April 24, 2011, 5:00PM

In a significant escalation of the progressive campaign to make Republicans pay a political price for voting to end Medicare, the progressive advocacy group Americans United for Change will run broadcast TV ads in the districts of Reps. Steve King (R-IA), Sean Duffy (R-WI), Chip Cravaack (R-MN), and Paul Ryan (R-WI).

"What are House Republicans thinking asking millions of seniors, the less fortunate and the disabled to make more sacrifices and the richest among us to make less," says AUC executive Tom McMahon in a statement.

If Republicans have their way, there would be no more guaranteed Medicare benefits for America's seniors, only a guarantee of paying more and more out of pocket for less care after being left to the mercy to the private insurance industry. There would only be a guarantee that millions of Americans would lose their jobs - only a guarantee that America's poor and disabled will live sicker and die younger while millionaires get another tax break they don't need and the nation cannot afford. This is not a path to prosperity, only a path to bankrupting seniors so Paris Hilton and BP can have another tax break. And there's nothing courageous about that.

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House '12

Freshman GOPer Cravaack Buys Part Of Bachmann's Fundraising List

Eric Kleefeld | April 14, 2011, 6:16PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN)

Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN), a freshman Republican who won a very surprising upset victory over longtime Democratic Rep. Jim Oberstar in the 2010 GOP wave, is now tapping a potentially lucrative source of cash in his effort to hold on to his historically Democratic district: The fundraising list of none other than fellow Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann.

The Star Tribune reports:

Cravaack's first Federal Election Commission report this year shows that Cravaack purchased a direct-mail list from Rep. Michele Bachmann, the fundraising star and potential 2012 candidate who founded the House Tea Party caucus.

Cravaack's office confirmed obtaining part of Bachmann's mailing list, which he paid $441 for, FEC records show. Cravaack's filing also lists an in-kind contribution from Bachmann's committee to Cravaack for a direct-mail list at the same price.

Bachmann is, of course, a very prolific fundraiser, with a wide following among the Tea Party movement base -- having brought in over $2 million in the past quarter. The question for Cravaack, of course, is whether Bachmann's following can transfer to bring in the bucks for him over the long haul.