The popular fifth-term congressman has to fight a bit harder than he is used to in his re-election bid this year against Democrat Mike Obermueller in the 2nd District race. The candidates plan to launch TV ads on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.

Freshman Minnesota Republican Chip Cravaack released his campaign finance report Friday, which revealed that he has $898,681 in cash on hand for his re-election bid for the traditionally DFL-leaning congressional district in northern Minnesota. The figure is more than triple the amount Former Sen. Tarryl Clark has, who is expected to be the top fundraiser among three DFLers competing in an Aug. 14 primary.

The former state representative will run against Republican Congressman John Kline this fall. Kline is seeking his sixth term and has more than $1 million for his re-election bid.

Former state Rep. Mike Obermueller says he raised $252,976 since he won the DFL endorsement to challenge six-term incumbent Republican Congressman John Kline in the 2nd Congressional District. Last week, Kline said he raised $428,000 in the same time period and had $1.3 million in the bank.

Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District Rep. Keith Ellison's campaign has $142,959 in the bank for his re-election bid against Republican Chris Fields, a campaign report said Friday. The Democrat Ellison will face off against Fields in a debate Aug. 29 at the Minnesota State Fair.

The top Democrat in the Minnesota House wants Rep. Kerry Gauthier, DFL-Duluth, off the November ballot. Gauthier has been under fire since it was revealed last week that he had a sexual encounter at a highway rest stop with a 17-year-old boy.

Former DFL state Rep. Mike Obermueller is going up against incumbent U.S. Rep. John Kline in the 2nd Congressional District. The ad focuses on a fictional pizza shop and poses the question: "What if you ran a business like the federal government?" Obermueller, narrator in the ad, criticizes wasteful government spending and tax breaks for millionaires.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has added Mike Obermueller to the top of its "Red to Blue" list -- indicating his campaign will receive financial, communications, organizing and strategic support. Obermuller, who served for two years in the Minnesota House, is challenging Republican Rep. John Kline in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District this fall.