‘Far too close for comfort’: An under-the-radar Senate race embodies Democrats’ midterm worries

Democrats enter the final two weeks before the midterms feeling bullish about winning the House, but a Senate seat in Minnesota shows why some remain nervous. More than a dozen party operatives told CNN their biggest fear is outside Republican-aligned spending, which is neutralizing the fundraising edge Democratic candidates hold in nearly every Senate battleground. Democrats would need to gain four seats without surrendering any, and they must win over some independents and Republicans in red states where President Donald Trump is trying to hold the line.

In Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan faces Michele Tafoya, a former sportscaster, for the seat Sen. Tina Smith is leaving. A state Democratic official told CNN the contest is "far too close for comfort." Tafoya calls herself a pro-choice Republican, keeps her distance from Trump even after he urged a vote for her at an Ohio rally, and stresses the state's welfare fraud scandal. Flanagan, who beat Rep. Angie Craig in the primary with Sen. Bernie Sanders's backing, is linking Tafoya to Trump and to high gas prices. A top Democrat said Amy Klobuchar's gubernatorial candidacy at the top of the ticket is helping. The candidates debate Friday.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN →