Tarryl Clark has garnered a long list of top-shelf Democratic support in her bid to defeat powerhouse Republican U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.

But when talking to Hot Dish about how she would go about unseating the darling of right-wing cable commentators, the DFL state senator from St. Cloud listed some unlikely folks she admires.
 
Tops were former Govs. Arne Carlson and Al Quie, and former U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad – all Republicans.
 
“Governor Carlson put us on a path to outcome and results-based budgeting,” Clark said. “Under his leadership, we had some of the highest per-capita income and job growth in the country.”
 
The 6th Congressional District, which wraps along the northern Twin Cities suburbs and extends past St. Cloud, is one of the most conservative areas in the state.
 
“I take it seriously to represent everybody and not just the people who voted for me,” Clark said.
 
Clark said she has spoken with several Republican leaders she admires, though she wouldn’t name names. She plans to talk to other Republicans during the campaign.

“I will work with anybody who wants to get the job done; I don’t care what party they are from,” she said. “The important part is to do all we can for” the people of the 6th District.

Clark won the DFL endorsement on Saturday, but faces a contested DFL primary against Dr. Maureen Reed, a former Independence Party candidate for lieutenant governor.

The winner faces Bachmann.