Democrats look to make Minnesota the Massachusetts of the Midwest

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Democrats look to make Minnesota the Massachusetts of the Midwest
By Aaron Blake
October 05, 2007

Iraq war veteran and former Watertown Mayor Steve Sarvi just began his campaign against Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.) on Thursday, but he’s already talking about not only his own victory in 13 months, but three others for the state’s Democrats as well.

“We’re talking about the whole state turning blue,” Sarvi said. “It’s going to be an exciting time.”

The entry of a trio of top Democratic candidates into races in the state’s three GOP-held House districts in the past 10 days has spurred talk of turning Minnesota into the Massachusetts of the Midwest, electing a congressional delegation that could mirror the all-Democratic slate representing arguably the most liberal state in the Union.

Whether or not the Democrats can achieve such a tall order, the state has quickly turned into a battleground, with as many as half its congressional seats up for grabs in 2008.

Minnesota was already set for a battle over Norm Coleman’s (R) Senate seat. But Rep. Jim Ramstad’s (R) unexpected retirement two weeks ago and the just-announced candidacies of Sarvi in the 2nd district and former state transportation commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg (D) in the 6th are quickly turning the state into more than just a presidential and senatorial hotspot in 2008.

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http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-look-to-make-minnesota-the-massachusetts-of-the-midwest-2007-10-05.html