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U.S. Representative Collin Peterson is banking his re-election on the sugar beet.

Peterson has been a reliable friend to the industry, which supports 14,000 jobs in his Republican-leaning House district, and it has helped the Minnesota Democrat win a dozen campaigns. He even rallied Democrats to back a sugar-supporting farm bill more popular among House Republicans than his own caucus.

This year might be different.

Republicans are gunning for him along with four other House Democrats whose constituents voted for Republicans in the past three presidential elections. Theyre preparing to spend millions on a handful of races because so few seats in the House of Representatives are truly up for grabs.

The challenge to Peterson underscores how in Washingtons hyper-partisan atmosphere even someone like the veteran lawmaker -- no big-government Democrat and someone who has shown a willingness to work with Republicans -- isnt safe.

The Republican Congressional Campaign Committee said it will run $2.8 million in television ads against Peterson and another incumbent Democrat in the Minneapolis and Fargo, North Dakota, media markets. That compares with the $1 million Peterson has raised and the $489,569 his Republican opponent, state Senator Torrey Westrom, had collected by July 23.

Petersons district is rated as leaning Democratic, a notch better than a toss-up.

So how is he trying to survive? Hes going local.

That means emphasizing his work to save U.S. aid for sugar beets from his cost-cutting colleagues.

Peterson has spent 24 years in Washington protecting the sugar-beet crop, which generates $3 billion in annual economic activity in his western Minnesota district. Hes touting that record in appealing to voters, 54 percent of whom backed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in 2012.

Continued here:
Farm-State Democrat Risks Defeat Even After Saving Aid