ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Democrat Mike Obermueller’s campaign is reserving almost $800,000 worth of time on Minneapolis-St. Paul TV airwaves as he attempts to unseat Republican Rep. John Kline.

Obermueller campaign manager Matt Larson said Friday that the campaign wanted to ensure that its ads wouldn’t be crowded out in the final push to the November election. The reservations totaled $791,000 for the last four weeks of the election. Campaigns can reserve time without paying for it up front.

The 2nd District race is expected to be more competitive than in recent elections because new boundaries made the district in the southern Twin Cities suburbs and Mississippi River towns more moderate.

Kline is far ahead in fundraising, with $1.3 million in the bank at the end of June, compared with $214,000 for Obermueller, a former state representative.

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