Interesting perspective.
Here’s one more (from a potential Dem perspective)...
The Dems in this state hate Michele Bachman, first term Rep from the Twin Cities’ northern suburbs. They are very obsessed with seeing her crash and burn.
Jim Oberstar’s district (8th CD) continues to bleed out. To increase population in the 8th CD, they throw northern Washington County and northern Anoka County from the 6th CD into the 8th CD. Maybe part of Stearns County too. Maybe all of Anoka County.
In short, Bachman is re-districted into the 8th CD and would face a very uncertain shot at re-election.
If the Democrats focus on beating Bachmann instead of on drawing 5 Democrat CDs (and maybe a 6th CD where Peterson would win), the GOP will be able to win 2-3 CDs (and pick up the Peterson CD when he retires). Adding heavily GOP counties to Oberstar’s CD would make it a 50-50 district in presidential elections, and while Oberstar would likely be able to beat Bachmann, the district would probably go GOP within a few years. The Democrats should draw a hyper-Republican CD that takes in the suburban and exurban towns that voted 60%+ for Bush in 2004, even if it means that Bachmann beats out Ramstad and Kline in the primary.