Bachmann has slim lead to keep House seat

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Incumbent Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota was in a close fight Tuesday with Democrat Elwyn Tinklenberg to retain her seat.

With about 35 percent of the precincts reporting, Bachmann led Tinklenberg 46 percent to 42 percent

In what should have been an easy re-election, Bachmann suddenly found herself in battle to keep her seat after her appearance on MSNBC's "Hardball" in which she said she questioned Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's "pro-American" views and suggested the media examine whether congressional members were pro- or anti-America.

The sometimes messy battle to succeed retiring Republican Rep. Jim Ramstad in the Third District matched Democrat Ashwin Madia, an Iraq war veteran, against Republican Erik Paulsen, a former state House majority leader.

In a nip-and-tuck race, with about 18 percent of the vote tallied, Paulsen held a 44 percent-to-42 percent lead over Madia.