The following article by Jennifer Brooks was posted on the Star Tribune website August 9, 2017:
Brace yourselves, Minnesota voters. Campaign ad season came early this year.
U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, a Republican who represents a district Hillary Clinton carried in 2016, is getting a boost from a $2.5 million national television ad buy from a deep-pocketed GOP advocacy group.
American Action Network, a political nonprofit helmed by former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, announced today it will be airing television ads — featuring an Ohio metalworker who pins the blame for his layoff of the current tax code — in 24 vulnerable Republican districts, including Minnesota’s Third Congressional District.
Paulsen, who sits on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, has another GOP super PAC on the ground in his district already, 15 months ahead of the election, working to set up a campaign network to support him in the upcoming battle to keep his seat.
Meanwhile, his primary Democratic challenger, wealthy businessman Dean Phillips, is taking a more one-on-one approach to voter outreach: Touring the district by milk truck.