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Jeff Anderson snags four more Iron Range endorsements for run against Cravaack

Jeff Anderson Duluth City Councilor Jeff Anderson collected four more Iron Range backers in his bid to win the DFL endorsement to run against U.S.

Jul 31, 202039.4K Shares1.4M Views
Duluth City Councilor Jeff Anderson collected four more Iron Range backers in his bid to win the DFL endorsement to run against U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District.
Anderson was endorsed by former state Sen. Jerry Janezich, former St. Louis County Commissioner and lobbyistGary Cerkvenik, former state Sen. Ron Dicklich and former candidate for Lieutenant Governor Kim Stokes.
Anderson is competing with former state Sen. Tarryl Clark and former U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan for the DFL endorsement to take on U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack.
“I’m very pleased with the endorsements that I’ve received so far from elected officials and former elected officials,” Anderson told the Minnesota Independent. “I’m excited to continue to earn the support of people around the district, elected officials, party officials and everyday folks.”
Anderson hasalready earned the supportof state Reps. Carly Melin (DFL-Hibbing) and Roger Reinert (DFL-Duluth).
“I think it’s important to show people that not only do I represent 87,000 in the largest city in the district, I also have roots in the more rural parts of the district,” Anderson said.
Anderson told the Minnesota Independent that his candidacy could transcend the sometimes contentious relations between the Iron Range and Duluth.
“The people of Duluth and the people of the Iron Range are more similar than many people might think. When it comes to the economy, when the Range does well, Duluth does well,” Anderson said. “So I think it’s important that we have a regional perspective rather than just an us vs them sort of mentality.”
Anderson said he’s also been making inroads in the southern tip of the district, meeting with party leaders and activists. He said he hasn’t yet announced whether he plans to abide by the DFL endorsement, predicting a “hard-fought race.”
In 2010, almost all the spending in the race came from outside groups opposed to former U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar. Although Anderson said the expected influx of outside money into the region was concerning, he said the campaign was about “more than money.”
“We’re building these grassroots networks of support across the district and talking to people about the future of the Eighth, and talking about where we want this generation to be in the next generation or next decade,” Anderson said. “When it gets down to crunch time, I think whoever the Democrat is on the ballot in November 2012 is going to have a lot of support.”
Paula M. Graham

Paula M. Graham

Reviewer
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