Finance executive Mike McFadden, who's seeking the Republican nomination to run against Senator Al Franken, was endorsed Monday by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

McFadden also has the party endorsement, but must face state Representative Jim Abeler in the August 12 GOP primary. The winner will run against Franken on November 4.

McFadden has dominated in the fundraising department, but the Star Tribune on Sunday endorsed Abeler in the race. It was among the newspaper's first endorsements under new owner Glen Taylor, a Republican.

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“Given the complexities of health care and entitlement reform — and the need for more bipartisan collaboration in Washington—Abeler is the better choice for Republican primary voters on August 12,” the endorsing editorial said.

(The paper today endorsed Jeff Johnson in the four-man GOP governor's primary.)

The U.S. Chamber, though, said it likes McFadden “because he is a problem solver who can bring real world common sense solutions to Washington,” according to Rob Engstrom, the group's national political director. “Mike’s private sector background and pro-growth agenda make him the clear choice in the Minnesota Senate race.”