I took a bit of flak for including this district in last week's post "Seats Democrats must win," mainly because it is a Republican district {incumbent Congressman Mark Kennedy is running for US Senate}. The race remains high on the Democrats' list of targeted seats, though - and the candidates could hardly be more different, as Eric Black of the Star Tribune reports:

Since entering politics in 1999, state Sen. Bachmann, R-Stillwater, has personified the conviction politician. She has put the most contentious social issues, such as legalizing gay marriage, which she strongly opposes, atop her agenda. She also stakes out positions that go beyond the conventional conservative line. And Bachmann describes those positions with clarity and in provocative, uncompromising rhetoric that thrills her supporters and horrifies her foes.

On the other hand, when child safety advocate Wetterling of St. Joseph talks issues, the rhetoric is neither so edgy nor so clear. The DFLer sometimes complains about questions that require her to choose between two policy options, sometimes refuses to do it and advocates things like "long-term vision" and "solution-seeking." Sometimes she outlines a widely shared goal such as greater access to health care, then talks at some length without really committing to a policy that would reach the goal.

Read the rest at link above. Bachmann, who will get a fundraising visit from President Bush next week, has a history of stark declarations on her conservative beliefs, while Wetterling won't even describe her political philosophy on the traditional left-right-center axis, only saying she is "reasonable."

The Star-Tribune {"Strib"} catches regular criticism for liberal bias from area bloggers Powerline and Captain's Quarters, but this piece from Black is balanced and worth the read.

UPDATE 8:15 p.m.: Gary Gross looks at the same article, from the closer perspective of being there, at Let Freedom Ring:

While some will regard Wetterling's not being a "policy wonk" as refreshing, I'd characterize it as alarming. I demand that legislators be wonkish. They deal with such a wide range of issues that to not be wonkish tells me that they aren't qualified for the job.

I'd also note that Wetterling's answers to MPR were evasive, which is as damaging as not being a policy heavyweight. That's a stark contrast to Michele Bachmann's habit of answering questions directly on point. Patty Wetterling doesn't want to debate Michele Bachmann because that matchup isn't flattering to her. She'd lose on substantive issues and on style.

Read it all at the link above.