Could one of the hottest state house races in the country affect partisanship for presidential election?

Minnesota's Third District a battle rages on over a vacant seat that was occupied for 9 terms by a Republican. The Third isn't used to any kind of controversial campaigning, and is known for its moderate politics and laid back races. However, now, a Republican, a Democrat and an independent are duking it over issues like creationism education policies, negative campaigning and even race.

Typically, its likely that voters wouldn't even be able to name their House rep, not to mention their opponents, or be able to articulate the issues between them. Now the race is neck and neck, and the local politics are hot. Whether or not the campaigns will have an influence on turnout overall remains to be seen, but interesting will be the local race's influence on how voters view party politics as a whole.

In an interview with the Star Tribune the independent candidate in the race said of the conservtaive candidate "the plain fact of the matter is that Erik has come out of the right wing of the Republican Party and it's part of why I'm not a Republican anymore."

These local races do have an impact on how national candidates are seen, and if the Republican candidate runs a very negative campaign, the way he comes across could be transfered to the Senate and presidential candidates. In a state like Minnesota this effect might not be minute. Keep a look-out for the Third.