Paulsen among prominent Republicans skipping the RNC

Many prominent Republicans are not attending the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this week because of their opposition to Donald Trump. One Minnesota Republican who isn't there is 3rd District Rep. Erik Paulsen.

Paulsen has skipped national conventions before, but this year his DFL opponent is trying to tie him to Trump. Democrats believe Trump will hurt Paulsen in the suburban district west of Minneapolis.

Democrats have been relentless in their effort to link Paulsen to Donald Trump. A recent press statement from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee proclaims that the "Trump-Paulsen Ticket Becomes Official Thursday," and claims Paulsen "has eagerly wrapped his arms around Donald Trump."

Paulsen's campaign has not responded to repeated inquiries starting in mid-April about how Trump might affect the congressman's re-election effort.

Carleton College political science professor Steven Schier said he's not surprised Paulsen is avoiding questions about Trump.

"I think you'll see a number of candidates from Minnesota keeping a polite distance from Donald Trump."

Schier said those candidates, including Paulsen, know many Minnesotans are not impressed with the developer and reality show star. He noted that Minnesota was the only state in which Trump did not finish first or second in the state delegate selections process.

But there are growing signs skeptical Minnesota Republicans are coming to terms with Trump.

Stepping away from a morning breakfast meeting with fellow Republicans at a hotel outside of Cleveland, national convention delegate Alex Plechash said he's decided to vote for Trump and will try to convince others to do the same. Plechash is from Wayzata, in Paulsen's district.

"Donald Trump was not my candidate, but he's better than what we've got in Hillary Clinton by far," he said.

Plechash disputed the notion Trump will hurt other Republicans. And if there is a negative Trump effect, Plechash said he's certain it will not affect Paulsen.

"Not a chance. He's got so much broad support in our congressional district. He's raised an inordinate amount of money. He's been a rock-solid congressman for us," Plechash said.

Far from Cleveland and the convention back in Minnesota, 43-year-old Democrat Tony Hirt disagreed. He said Trump will hurt Paulsen.

"I've spoken to people that I know — friends and family members who traditionally vote Republican — who are less than enthusiastic about Trump, and some may stay home and that might negatively affect some of the other down-ticket races," said Hirt.

DFL State Sen. Terri Bonoff of Minnetonka said she decided to challenge Paulsen largely because of Trump.

"This is not a reality TV show. We are talking about the president of the United States. And so when it became clear to me that it was going to be Donald Trump, I knew I had to do something," she said.

Bonoff said Paulsen should be in Cleveland standing up to Trump. She said his unwillingness to denounce Trump will cost him his seat in Congress.

"I believe I'll win in November because Donald Trump and Erik Paulsen, together, are revealing something about where he stands," she said.

Nathan Gonzales of the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report said Trump will hurt many down-ballot Republicans. But he also predicts the Trump effect will differ district to district.

He thinks Paulsen is less vulnerable than others with almost eight years in Congress and record of accomplishment, including working to suspend a tax on medical device manufacturers.

"I think it's easier for someone like Eric Paulsen who has been in office, has a constituent base, has a profile in a district, to run ahead of Donald Trump," he said.

Still, Gonzales' report moved Paulsen's district from "safe - Republican" to Republican-"favored" just days before the convention began.

Correction (July 20, 2016): An earlier version of this story misspelled Rep. Erik Paulsen's last name in the headline. The story has been updated.