Over in the Corner, Kathryn writes:

[Margorie Margolies Mezvinsky] also writes “I voted my conscience and it cost me.” I’m not sure Minnesota Rep. James Oberstar will be able to say that first part, after announcing he will vote for the bill. Anyone out there ready to challenge him and make at least half that sentence relevant to him?

If she means electoral challenge, a trio of Republicans seek to send the 75-year-old, 18-term incumbent into involuntary retirement. Chip Cravaak is a retired naval officer; Justin Eichorn is a small business owner and national bowling champion (!); and Darrel Trulson is a businessman and former local official in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Oberstar is obviously a local legend, but it’s not a terribly Democratic district, rated D+3 in the Cook Partisan Voting Index. Duluth and the Iron Range are the traditional Democratic strongholds, while the southern counties are trending more Republican, according to Michael Barone’s Almanac of American Politics.

A poll commissioned by the pro-life women’s group the Susan B. Anthony List revealed the powerful political impact of Oberstar’s “yes” vote:

73% oppose using tax dollars to pay for abortions (61% strongly oppose)
74% oppose taxpayer funding of abortions as part of healthcare reform (60% strongly oppose)
68% agree that abortion and abortion funding have no place in healthcare legislation (54% strongly agree)
56% would be less likely to vote to re-elect Congressman Oberstar if he votes for healthcare legislation that includes federal government funding of abortion (36% would be much less likely)