Who will control Minn. Legislature? Look to the White House

This year, with the DFL hungry to win back control, and Republicans equally committed to retaining the speaker's gavel, similar sums are expected to be spent in several other races that could determine control of the House.

Even more money will flow to so-called "dark money" groups that don't have to report their spending but that will dump more cash into the campaign effort.

Political veterans are starting to wonder: Does it even matter?

They are not questioning the importance of legislative control, but, rather, whether all this time, money and effort can really sway legislative races.

What matters more and more, they say, is the race for the White House.

Look at Minnesota's past four elections: Republicans swept during the off-years, and the DFL won big during the presidential years, all the way back to 2008.

Notice what was also happening during those years: Democrats had a presidential candidate and then a president who was popular with the DFL base, so they voted. And while they were in the voting booth, they supported other DFL candidates, so they won control of the Legislature.

The legislative candidates, their money and their message were frequently overshadowed by the national political atmosphere.

"The national mood is increasingly impacting local elections," said Zach Rodvold, a DFL strategist. "And the dynamics of a presidential election with higher voter turnout disproportionately benefits DFL candidates."

In 2014, for instance, Knoblach benefited from a huge drop-off in turnout at St. Cloud State University. Unlike 2012, the students, who lean DFL, found other things to do than vote. Next year, most observers expect students to show up for a presidential race and likely the first woman nominee of a major political party, which means Knoblach's seat is in jeopardy.

It also matters which candidates the parties nominate, which is why strategists are eyeing the top of the ticket warily, teasing out the possible effects.

"Hillary Clinton's high disapproval ratings, particularly in competitive legislative districts, is just one of the reasons we are confident going into next year's election," said state Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington.