Republican attack ads roil Minnesota congressional campaign [View all]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — New ads in a pivotal Minnesota congressional race accuse Democrat Dean Phillips of hypocrisy on health care, saying he hasn't provided insurance for his own employees even as he proclaims it's a "moral right" that everyone should have.

The wealthy businessman struck back with his own ad this week, saying U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen is "not telling you the truth," and asserting that he offers insurance to full-time employees of his coffee shops, as he did with companies he previously ran.

The Congressional Leadership Fund, which is aligned with U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, debuted an ad last week in support of Paulsen, who released an ad making similar claims the same day. Phillips rolled out his counterattack Tuesday.

Paulsen is seeking a sixth term to represent a suburban district that was once solidly Republican but has become a swing district. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll gave Phillips a 9-point lead.

Read more: http://www.mankatofreepress.com/region/republican-attack-ads-roil-minnesota-congressional-campaign/article_6380607f-e5cd-517a-9a67-8dd415ecb74f.html