U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad's surprise announcement Monday that he will not run for re-election sets the stage for the hottest congressional race in Minnesota next year. More than a dozen prominent Republicans and Democrats are expected to seriously consider taking a once-in-a-generation opportunity to run for an open seat in the politically competitive 3rd Congressional District, which consists of the northern, western and southern Hennepin County suburbs of Minneapolis. For now, it will be the only open congressional seat in the state in 2008, and although Republicans have held the seat for decades, Democrats have been gaining ground there in...