MN 6th District Now Rated A Toss Up

Congressional Quarterly has changed its ratings on 18 races reflecting what it calls a "Democratic Breeze" blowing across the country. In Minnesota's 6th District CQ's rating has gone from "leans Republican" to "No Clear Favorite"

Minnesota 6
• New rating: No Clear Favorite
• Old rating: Leans Republican
The political history and demographics of this district, which three-term Republican Rep. Mark Kennedy left open to run for the Senate, do not exactly lend themselves to a Democratic takeover. Voters in the 6th, which bridges suburbs of the Twin Cities with the city of St. Cloud, gave President Bush 57 percent in 2004. Yet Kennedy himself ran 3 percentage points behind Bush in his 2004 race against well-known child safety advocate Patty Wetterling — who is back for another try after flirting with a Senate bid this year. Wetterling has a powerful personal presence that makes her a formidable candidate. So is state Sen. Michele Bachmann, though Democrats think they have an angle in her image as a social conservative activist — which contrasts with Kennedy’s more business-oriented image.