If you're looking for evidence that sulfide mining is a hot-button issue, these poll results are interesting.

What's the most important issue facing the 8th District?
Jobs (71%) 
Environment (20%) 
Education (5%) 
Taxes/Govt spending (4%)

Are you confident in the technology available to prevent sulfide mining from polluting the environment?
Very confident (51%) 
Somewhat confident (8%) 
Not confident (36%) 
Unsure/need to know more (5%)

The most unfortunate case of omitting a word:

"I have fought veterans." - Tarryl Clark 


Since this came in the context of a question that came up on PDD, and since Clark's answer was mistakenly removed and added in later, out of order, I'll post the whole thing here.

Catharine Richert: On the blog Perfect Duluth Day, Chris pointed out that Rep. Chip Cravaack's family recently moved out of the district. He wrote that it "makes him seem out of touch with the concerns of a large portion of the district. Considering you ran and lived in the 6th district just a year ago, how do you plan to avoid this same perception?"

Tarryl Clark: The new District lines won't be seen until next year, and no one knows who lives or doesn't live in the District. I don't need any line on a map to tell me this is home. Across Central and Northeastern Minnesota, we live together as friends and family, supporting our regional centers and farmers, enjoying hunting, fishing, skiing, and snowmobiling. It's what we love about this place.

Representative Cravaack is disconnected from us and has different priorities. Maybe it's because he hasn't lived in Minnesota very long, or because he lives in a suburb, or because he's moved his family to New Hampshire.

Unlike Representative Cravaack I am the only one who has worked across this district. I am the only one that has fought for seniors. I have stood by the unions for 23 years. I have fought veterans. I am the only one who has a proven record of fighting for the priorities of our families and communities for over the past two decades.

More important than the lines drawn on a map are the lines that show whose side you're on. He's chosen Wall Street. I've chosen Main Street. He's chosen special interests and big money. I've chosen our families and our communities. In Congress, I'll be on your side.

The Duluth candidates fared pretty well in that poll. Cravaack did poorly, but since it's a poll of people following a DFL candidate forum that's to be expected.

Which candidate do you support?
Jeff Anderson (40%) 
Tarryl Clark (20%) 
Chip Cravaack (3%) 
Daniel Fanning (19%) 
Rick Nolan (16%) 
Undecided (2%)