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Capitol View®
Catharine Richert

Obama nominates Minnesota donor as Norway ambassador

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Minneapolis lawyer Sam Heins, a major donor and bundler for President Barack Obama in his 2012 re-election campaign, has been nominated to serve as ambassador to Norway.

Heins and his wife Stacey raised more than $1 million for Obama between 2011 and 2012. Both gave the maximum $5,000 individually to Obama's campaign.

Members of Minnesota's Washington delegation objected to Obama's previous nominee to be Norway's ambassador. George Tsunis, also a major fundraiser for President Obama and other Democrats, had never been to Norway.

Among those who objected was Sen. Amy Klobuchar. This time around, she is pleased with Obama's pick.

"Minnesota is home to more people of Norwegian heritage than anywhere except Norway itself, so it is only fitting that the nominee to be the United States ambassador to Norway hails from our state," Klobuchar said in a statement. "An incredibly smart attorney with an extensive background in human rights, I have no doubt that Sam Heins will be a great fit for this position, and I commend the administration on nominating Sam to this important post.”

Heins' nomination must be approved by the U.S. Senate.