To no one’s surprise, traditional DFL supporters are lining up behind state Sen. Tarryl Clark in her bid to win the party’s nod to run against Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann in the 6th Congressional District.

This week, the AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union’s state council and former Vice President Walter Mondale all came out for Clark, who faces an endorsement challenge from Dr. Maureen Reed.

Reed hasn’t ruled out running in a primary against Clark if she doesn’t receive the party’s blessing. It is unlikely Reed will win over the party activists, given her 2006 run for lieutenant governor on the Independence Party ticket with Peter Hutchinson.

Interestingly, as Clark builds up traditional support in the 6th District, some IP members are regretting that Reed has entered the congressional race. They believe, given her background in health, education and business, that she would be a potentially strong gubernatorial candidate for the party.

In throwing their support to Clark, both the AFL-CIO and SEIU noted her support for state workers in her years in the state Senate.

Mondale’s letter of support appealed to DFLers to support the Clark campaign financially.