Tarryl Clark announced yesterday that she will join the race for the DFL endorsement to face Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN). Her announcement is below the fold. Clark is the first DFLer to officially declare in the race to retake Jim Oberstar's seat. Currently, Jeff Anderson, Tim Faust, Daniel Fanning and Rick Nolan are considering running but haven't made official decisions though Anderson may be the closest to making a decision.
Clark faces two major hurdles:
- She will not replicate the fundraising she had against Bachmann
- She isn't from the district
-- cross-posted from MN Progressive Project, home of the Michele Bachmann Bizarro World --
Fundraising
Tarryl Clark raised $4.6 million in her 2010 campaign against Michele Bachmann. But that was against Michele Bachmann. I believe her fundraising prowess was because of her opponent and won't translate to the Eighth District.
Furthermore, I think that with her in the race, there will be a primary. She will have to spend everything she raises just to win the primary and then will have to start from scratch.
Prediction: $500K to $800K raised through the primary and that's IF she gets the DFL endorsement. I cannot see her breaking the $2 million barrier if she wins the primary.
Not From The District
Tarryl would have to move into the Eighth District to run. I don't think there's any chance that she'd be redistricted into the Eighth.
This won't play well with two major crowds up there; the Iron Rangers and Duluth residents. Many of them will use more crass terms to describe Tarryl's decision.
She has to convince the activists who want Chippy gone that she's one of them and that she can beat him.
Here's Tarryl's announcement which I received via email:
Citing the need to prioritize middle class families and job creation for Minnesota, Tarryl Clark today announced that she is running for Congress in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District.
“There’s too much at stake to sit on the sidelines,” said Clark. “Minnesota deserves a voice in Congress that will stand up for ordinary families who have been left behind.”
“We need leadership in Washington that will put our families first, protect Medicare for our seniors, and bring good paying jobs back to Minnesota.” added Clark.
Clark, who served as the Assistant Majority Leader in the State Senate, is credited with building broad bi-partisan coalitions to protect seniors, bolster early childhood education for our kids, and help veterans transition from combat duty to civilian life.
Prior to being elected to the State Senate, Clark has been an active public servant serving as attorney for the Minnesota Children’s Defense Fund and as the Executive Director for the Minnesota Community Action Fund.
“I am honored by the support I have received from people across the 8th district who have encouraged me to run for Congress,” Said Clark.
Tarryl Clark and her husband Doug have two sons – Colin and Nathan – and have lived in Minnesota for over 20 years.