DFLer Jim Graves follows U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann out of 6th District race

Democrat Jim Graves set out to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, and now that she's out of the 2014 congressional race, so is he.

The dual withdrawals reset the Sixth Congressional District race into a wide-open contest that strongly favors the GOP in what is considered the state's most conservative district. A number of local Republicans have already expressed interest in vying for the seat.

Graves' announcement on Friday was nearly as much of a surprise as Bachmann's earlier this week. When Bachmann first announced her political retirement, Graves said her decision would not alter his message or strategy "one bit," even if he faced a challenge from within his party. By Friday, he had reversed himself, abruptly pulling the plug on his campaign and temporarily leaving the DFL without a contender in that race.

Graves declined to make himself available to reporters, but said in a statement that his candidacy "was about challenging the ineffective leadership and extremist ideology of Michele Bachmann on behalf of those she represents. … As of Wednesday, that goal was accomplished, and our supporters should be incredibly proud of that accomplishment."

A political newcomer in 2012, Graves pushed Bachmann to the brink in her 2012 election, losing to the four-term congresswoman by a single percentage point. This time around, the wealthy businessman declared early that he was set for a rematch in 2014.

Minnesota DFL Chairman Ken Martin, who spoke to Graves Thursday night, said Graves simply didn't have the same drive to run once Bachmann departed the race. The DFLer had spent more than half a million dollars of his own money on the 2012 race and still carried more than $260,000 in campaign debt on his last report to the Federal Election Commission.

"It was very clear his heart just wasn't in it," Martin said of Graves. "He has a passion for public service, but not necessarily of being in an elected office. I think he wants to make a difference in other ways."

Covering a vast swath of suburban and exurban land that stretches from Woodbury to past St. Cloud, the Sixth could be even more reliably Republican with the unpredictable Bachmann factor removed from the equation. This is a district that preferred GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney to President Obama by 15 percentage points last year, even though Obama won the state.

Graves' decision represents a setback for the DFL, which counted on his resources, name recognition and business-friendly background to run a strong race. Party officials have already begun searching for a replacement, but by Friday afternoon, none had immediately stepped forward.

"Seeing [Graves] decide not to run is a big disappointment, but certainly not a fatal blow," Martin said. "It's a great opportunity for the DFL to win in this district."

Norman Ornstein, a Minnesota native and congressional scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., saw Graves' decision as a bow to reality by the Democrats.

"This is Democrats taking a seat that they were pretty sure they could win and would win with a strong, well-financed candidate against somebody growing weaker by the day," Ornstein said, referring to Bachmann. "And now they're conceding that the dynamics of the district are just not there for them."

Since her first congressional race in 2006, Bachmann developed a lightning rod presence on the national stage that transformed her into a fundraising powerhouse. It also galvanized Democrats and supporters nationwide who were eager to topple her.

After Grave's unexpectedly close finish in 2012, national Democrats were lining up behind him this time, eager to pour resources into an effort to unseat Bachmann. Now, without Bachmann as a flashpoint for opposition, the Sixth could become a GOP slam-dunk.

"This district is a steep uphill climb for a Democrat," Ornstein said. "It's much less steep if you're running against Michele Bachmann."

DFL Chair Martin said that soon after Graves broke the news to him, he and other party leaders began calling potential replacements — former politicians, business leaders, anyone who might be able to win over voters in a distinctly right-leaning district.

Martin disputed the notion that DFLers have in any way conceded the race. "I think you're going to see a competitive race on both sides of the aisle," he said. "It's a great opportunity for the DFL to win in this district. That hasn't changed.'' He declined to say which local Democrats were on his call list.

Brandon Lorenz, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said it will "monitor the race as it develops."

"We expect this district will feature a bitter Republican primary fight over who can get the furthest to the right the fastest," Lorenz said.