Former 8th District Congressman Jim Oberstar formally endorsed Rick Nolan Monday to unseat first-term GOP Rep. Chip Cravaack this fall. Nolan, the DFL-endorsed candidate, faces a primary in August against former state Sen. Tarryl Clark and former Duluth City Council President Jeff Anderson.

Democrat Tarryl Clark is one of three DFL candidates looking to unseat GOP Congressman Chip Cravaack in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District this fall. Former President Clinton wrote in a statement, "Tarryl's focus for almost 25 years has been improving Minnesota. I am confident she will bring the common sense solutions we need to Washington." Clark faces former Rep. Rick Nolan and former Duluth City Councilor Jeff Anderson in the Aug. 14 primary. Nolan is the DFL endorsed candidate.

Nolan, who served in Congress during the 1970's, hopes to challenge freshman Republican Chip Cravaack. On caucus night he bested fellow Democrats Jeff Anderson and Tarryl Clark. But the trio may be headed to a primary election.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released its first ad in Minnesota Saturday that targets Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack in the 8th District race for Congress -- a day after the National Republican Congressional Committee started running ads against Cravaack's opponent, former U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan.

The race to become the DFL challenger who will try to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack this fall is proving to be costly for the parties involved. Campaign finance reports show Sen. Tarryl Clark has already spent more than three times the total she raised in the first 25 days in July, and Congressman Rick Nolan and former Duluth City Council Member Jeff Anderson have also spent more cash than they've taken in.

Former Sen. Al Franken staffer Daniel Fanning received eight votes, while former state Sen. Tarryl Clark and Duluth City Councilmember Jeff Anderson received one each. The four Democrats are running to take on freshman Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack.

With three weeks to Election Day, candidates are beginning a sprint to the finish line. The races feature four congressional debates in Minnesota this week, in the 3rd, 4th, 7th and 8th Congressional Districts. In the 8th, where Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack and DFL challenger Rick Nolan are locked in one of the most hotly contested races in the nation, the two candidates will meet at high noon Tuesday at Anoka Ramsey Community College. It's open to the public.

Minnesota voters will set the stage for an array of political races when they cast their ballot on Tuesday. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie told the Red Wing Republican Eagle that primary turnout will be low, despite the closely watched primaries in the 1st and 8th Congressional Districts.