Jun 22, 2008 10:07 am US/Central
Independence Party Backs Dem. Tinklenberg
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) ―
Former Transportation Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg, the Democratic candidate in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District, picked up a key endorsement Saturday in his bid to unseat Republican Michele Bachmann.
The Independence Party of Minnesota, at its endorsing convention here, decided to back Tinklenberg instead of fielding its own candidate.
Two years ago, Independence Party candidate John Binkowski drew almost 8 percent of the district's vote, helping Bachmann win the seat with 50 percent of the vote. Democrat Patty Wetterling got just 42 percent.
Tinklenberg is positioning himself as more moderate than the conservative Bachmann and trying to win over middle-of-the-road voters.
"What this says about our campaign is that we are trying to do what we talk about, and that is to build through addition rather than division," said Tinklenberg, who worked as transportation commissioner under former Gov. Jesse Ventura, who won office as a third-party candidate.
The Independence Party has endorsed candidates from other parties in the past, including Republican Gov. Arne Carlson when he ran for re-election 14 years ago.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
