Dayton Ally Spent Almost $6M On Minn. Gov's Race

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A Democratic-backed independent group spent $5.7 million on the race for Minnesota governor last year, mainly on TV ads attacking Republican Tom Emmer.

Campaign regulators posted year-end financial reports Tuesday from political funds including the Alliance for a Better Minnesota.

Democrat Mark Dayton beat Emmer after a recount in a race largely shaped by spending by outside groups.

Alliance for a Better Minnesota reported raising almost $6 million from two affiliated political funds backed by wealthy donors, unions and the Democratic Governors Association.

Two independent groups spent against Dayton on Emmer's behalf.

Minnesota's Future sank $1.4 million into the race, mostly for ads against Dayton and Independence Party candidate Tom Horner.

MN Forward spent almost $1.8 million. The group got money from businesses including Target Corp. and Best Buy Co.

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