Yesterday the DFL launched biographical ads for Rick Nolan in the MN-8 DFL primary, finally putting the endorsed candidate on the air. A DFL insider I spoke to expressed some confidence Nolan will win the primary, but I continue to believe that no one really knows until Aug. 14. Nevertheless, this is a clean, sharp ad showing Nolan in a variety of heroic northern Minnesota poses.

I wrote about the ad wars late last week. Though more ads are likely from all candidates, it appears that Clark has put up the best-produced offerings. The question remains, however, how much these ads will sway the voting public in a district famous for person-to-person political networks.

The winner of the Aug. 14 DFL primary will face freshman incumbent Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) in one of the nation’s most watched congressional races.

UPDATE: Interesting press conference by Nolan tomorrow. Text:

Rick Nolan, the DFL-endorsed candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s 8th District, will make a major announcement regarding the future of mining and environmental technologies research in northern Minnesota and across the United States tomorrow, 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, July 18, at the University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute.