Candidates for the 2nd District argue about the economy and abortion

It's pretty clear that battle lines have been drawn in Minnesota's most competitive congressional race. The two candidates running for the Second District seat, incumbent Democrat Angie Craig and Republican challenger Joe Teirab, took positions on the economy, abortion and immigration.

“I have a bill that would create a federal group, a federal working group, that would figure out exactly why consumer prices were so high,” Craig said in a nearly hour-long debate broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio. She speculated that corporate greed and CEO pay were partly to blame.

Teirab, a former federal prosecutor, countered that inflation had skyrocketed because of the federal spending Craig voted for.

“How did we get here?” Teirab asked. “Obviously we had the terrible economic agenda of Biden and Harris, passing one reckless spending bill after another.”

On the issue of abortion, Teirab repeatedly criticized Craig for misrepresenting whether he supported a federal abortion ban and whether he supported exceptions to abortion bans. “They want to confuse voters about my stance. I support exceptions for rape, incest and (to) save the life of the mother.”

Craig cited a questionnaire Teirab filled out for an anti-abortion group, as well as previous statements he made as an anti-abortion activist. “I will let listeners and women and their families judge for themselves whether what I say is right,” she said.

The debate comes at a time when it's finally becoming apparent that outside spending is having an impact on the Second District race. According to the campaign finance website Opensecrets.org, just over $1 million has now come in from outside sources, almost entirely to support Craig. That's still well below the $19 million that outside interest groups are spending on the 2022 race.

Republican strategist Brian McDaniel believes Teirab could win the race, even though the respected Cook Political Report continues to rate him as a “lean Democrat.”

“It’s 100% in play,” McDaniel says in an interview recorded for “At Issue with Tom Hauser,” airing Sunday at 10 a.m. “The installation of Teirab when Taylor Rahm withdrew (from the race) only increased Republicans’ ability to bring the Second Congressional District back into Republican hands.”

Former DFL state senator Ember Reichgott Junge says she understands why Craig is favored to win.

“She has demonstrated that she is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress,” Reichgott Junge said. “She is one of the most independent voices in Congress. She has gone against her party on several occasions. And particularly strong in law enforcement. I think those three things will win the day.”

The two candidates will debate again Monday morning in Lakeville at a Chamber of Commerce event.