By Pat Kessler
MINNEAPOLIS — A campaign ad from Republican congressional candidate Joe Teirab is making waves in Minnesota’s 2nd District race.
That ad blames Democratic Representative Angie Craig for a series of problems from inflation to corruption — but is it true?
As the former Marine and federal prosecutor is jogging, he links three-term Democrat Angie Craig to skyrocketing inflation — and much more — with the number 20% projected on a building wall.
“Career politicians like Angie Craig are killing the American Dream,” Teirab says in the ad. “Skyrocketing inflation, open borders, insider deals and corruption.”
The 20% inflation claim is a whopper and it needs context.
U.S. inflation did not hit 20%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. It did reach a painful 9.1% one month in 2022 following the pandemic. It is now 2.5%.
Consumer prices did climb about 20% in the last four years compared to around 8% under former President Trump.