Washington DC – The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) announced today that Chip Cravaack has been elevated to ‘On the Radar’ status in the National Republican Congressional Committee’s (NRCC) Young Guns program.

The NRCC’s announcement is in the wake of a poll earlier this week showing Cravaack trailing 17-term incumbent Jim Oberstar by just three points.

“This is yet another sign of how fed up Americans are with bailouts, failed stimulus programs, and government takeovers,” said Cravaack, a former Captain in the United States Navy. “It’s time for a new direction, where we put our faith in the American people – not the federal government – to overcome the challenges we face.”

A poll released earlier this week shows Cravaack in a strong position to beat Oberstar. With less than a month until Election Day, Cravaack is statistically tied with Oberstar (45-42). The survey also revealed that only 40 percent of voters in Minnesota’s 8th district believe that Oberstar deserves to be re-elected. Politico, a Washington newspaper that covers Congressional campaigns, published a report yesterday – House Chairmen in Jeopardy – that documents Cravaack’s momentum in the 8th.

“The NRCC is committed to working with Chip Cravaack as he continues to meet the rigorous goals of the Young Guns program,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions of Texas. “Chip is an accomplished, independent leader who will fight to create jobs and rein in government spending. I am confident that Chip has what it takes to take on Jim Oberstar, an out-of-touch Washington politician solely focused on his party’s failed big-government, big-spending agenda.”

The Young Guns program is designed to assist Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives achieve goals and benchmarks focused on the fundamentals of a winning campaign. By achieving “On the Radar” status, Cravaack has already proven his ability to build a successful, grassroots campaign structure.