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DULUTH, Minn. (KMSP) - Vice President Joe Biden made a stop in Duluth, Minn., where a tight congressional race between Democrat incumbent Rep. Rick Nolan and Republican challenger Stewart Mills (R) is playing out.
Two years ago, Nolan’s margin of victory in the 8th Congressional District was narrow. This year, his rematch with Stewart Mills is considered one of four democratic seats in the country that is a toss-up, according to RealClearPolitics.com.
That’s why it brought the visit from the Vice President.
“He knows who made this county great, it’s not a bunch of billionaires who some by the way don’t pay any taxes,” said Nolan.
According to OpenSecrets.org, at $14.6 million, the Nolan-Mills race is also the most expensive congressional campaign in the nation.
At the rally, both Rep. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who spoke ahead of Nolan, mentioned Hillary Clinton.
“I cannot wait to stand in front of my daughter and my wife and I named her appropriately, Hope, and tell Hope Walz that there’s something new her friends are going to get to practice saying - Madame President,” said Walz.
“How many times have you heard us say this is the most important election in our lifetime, right? Ok, let me tell you a little secret - those other times, we were lying,” said Klobuchar. “This is it. This is the time we can elect our first woman president in Hillary Clinton.”
Biden’s stump speech to a University of Minnesota-Duluth gymnasium, that didn’t fill up, spent a lot of time on the threat to the middle class he says the Republicans bring.
“The single greatest threat to the growth is the concentration of wealth,” said Biden.
Biden stayed only on issues, entirely away from any of the scandals that have characterized this election cycle. He did not attack Trump directly. He also did not mention Hillary, either to promote her or defend her.
His only message directed at Mills and Trump was at the end.
“And I’m so sick and tired of hearing why we are in decline,” said Biden. “We are American ladies and gentlemen and it’s time to take it back from people who want to do something different.”