More proof Minnesota politics are special:

According to number crunchers at the University of Virginia, "nine (U.S. House) Democrats hold seats won by Mitt Romney, and 16 Republicans hold seats won by Barack Obama."

Three of those representing the rare 25 districts with ticket-splitting voters are in Minnesota.

  • Romney picked up 54 percent of the vote in Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson's western Seventh District. Peterson won his last election with 60 percent of the vote.
  • Obama won 49.5 percent of the vote, to Romney's 48.65 percent, in Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen's suburban Third Congressional District. Paulsen won re-election with 58 percent of the vote.
  • Obama won 49.91 percent of the vote, Romney won 49.85 percent, a difference of 226 votes. Kline won re-election with 54 percent of the vote.

National political groups have been making some noise about their hopes to win over the Seventh and Second Districts. So far, they've been much quieter about the Third.