Congressman Jim Oberstar announced his campaign for reelection this morning in Duluth.
While on the campaign trail, Oberstar talked about his stance on a number of issues facing the U-S and the Northland.
Joel Runck has the details.

Congressman Jim Oberstar has served nearly one and a half years as the chairman of the U-S House Transportation Committee.
Pursuing his 18th term in Congress, the DFLer from Chisholm is running unopposed.

"I've got news for any opposition as a result of my operation six weeks ago I've got a 45-year, new hip," said Oberstar, D--Minn.

After offering up a taste of humor, Oberstar wasted no time getting to the business side of things.
One of the main issues addressed was the Midwest Rail Initiative.

"A one and a half to one point six billion dollar investment will bring 110 mile-an-hour rail service in this entire corridor: Chicago, east to Cleveland, south to St. Louis and East St. Louis and West to the Twin Cities and Duluth," Oberstar said.

As for the Presidential race , Both Senators Hillary Clinton and John McCain have proposed suspending the federal gasoline tax in the summer months to alleviate pain at the pump.

Critics of the measure such as Senator Barack Obama say it's nothing more than short-term quick fix.

"Not only will it not be a quick fix, it will blow a 12 and a half billion dollar hole in the Highway Trust Fund," said Oberstar.

During his campaign speech this morning, the congressman spoke about the War in Iraq and his beliefs about how its funding could be better spent.

"The direct cost is two and a half billion dollars every week. The president will soon send the Congress a request for another 102 billion dollars just for the Iraq-Afghanistan activities," said Oberstar.

Putting the issues of politics aside, the 73-year-old Democrat says he's especially looking forward to getting back on the bike trail after his hip surgery.

"I expect by the first Sunday of June-the Paul Bunyan Trail ride, that I'll be up to 16 to 17 miles an hour on the bike," Oberstar said.

In Duluth, Joel Runck the Northlands News Center.

The general election takes place on November 4th.