Drive for campaign funds revs up in Third District race for Congress

Last update: January 11, 2008 - 9:00 AM

The money race is on in the Third Congressional District.

Two of the DFLers hoping to win the seat being vacated by longtime Republican Rep. Jim Ramstad announced Thursday that they had added six-figure sums to their campaign bank accounts during the last three months of 2007.

State Sen. Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka, reported raising more than $210,000 in the fourth quarter, increasing her total contributions to more than $300,000 since the former business executive entered the race.

She had more than $230,000 in cash on hand at the end of the year, her campaign reported.

Iraq war veteran Ashwin Madia reported raising $161,150 between Oct. 23, when he announced his candidacy, and the end of the year.

Edina Mayor Jim Hovland, who formally entered the race this week, had no fundraising totals to announce, a campaign spokesman said.

The campaign of state Rep. Erik Paulsen of Eden Prairie, the only Republican who has announced a possible run for the seat, did not return a call seeking comment.

Although Republicans have held the Third District seat since 1961, Ramstad's retirement after nine terms has set in motion one of the most potentially volatile races in the nation next year.

Worried about an expensive, competitive race in a suburban district that has been rapidly changing, GOP leaders have tried to persuade Ramstad to reconsider his decision to step down. So far, they've been unsuccessful.

BOB VON STERNBERG

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