In Minnesota politics, the clout of the Eighth Congressional District is legendary. Politicians from places like the Iron Range, Duluth and International Falls make up an important and often defiant voting bloc in the state legislature, and they seem to have a knack for ending up in charge of key legislative committees. The district's VOTERS share in the reputation, too, with above-average turn-out for almost every election. But the district's clout is possibly becoming a thing of the past. The Iron Range, home of the district's hard-core political activism, is losing population... and the defeat in 1990 of Hibbing native Rudy Perpich dealt a serious blow to DFL party machine morale. The FM News Station's Martin Kaste takes a closer look at the district's political fortunes.