Well, Craavack was a bit of a fluke upset in a district that hadn’t voted Republican for Congress since 1944. It’s unfortunate he couldn’t get a better hold on the seat (and the public problems with his wife didn’t help matters). That some elderly Watergate baby retread beat him was ridiculous. Hopefully the MN GOP can get a strong challenger to Nolan.
I’m in CD8 and voted for Craavack twice.
He was a target of downstate media from day one, namely in the form of the Minneapolis RedStar Tribune. He did take advantage both of the Tea Party wave and a supremely arrogant incumbent in “Jimmy Bikeshorts” Oberstar, but redistricting, media pressure and, admittedly, heavier Democrat turnout helped elect Nolan last fall.
The meat of CD8 is in the southern part of the district, the northern suburbs outside the Twin Cities metro area. That was what got Chip elected two years ago and what will hopefully help defeat Nolan next time around.