“I came here a year ago when he didn’t have a prayer,” Cleland said of Walz. “Now, he’s going to win. ... Tim has become one of the best in the country.”

Cleland is campaigning for several congressional candidates, mostly military veterans running against Republican incumbents, but Walz was thrilled to have him from 7:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. — including events in Waseca, Winona and Austin.

“It means a lot,” Walz said. “... Max believes in me personally. And he believes in Minnesota, that Minnesota will make the right decision.”

Gutknecht campaign spokesman Bryan Anderson said Gutknecht made clear following a trip to Iraq last summer that he believes the war can’t continue on the present course. Gutknecht supports a partial withdrawal of U.S. troops to spur Iraqis to take more control over the nation’s security.

Anderson also said that overall funding for veterans’ health care has increased substantially since Gutknecht was first elected.

“I suppose some would argue that more could be done,” Anderson said. “But Congress has done a good job of taking care of veterans who have been wounded.”