Wealthy businessman Walt Minnick (D), hoping to upset freshman Rep. Bill Sali (R) in the heavily Republican 1st district, is set today to accept the endorsement the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate and conservative House Democrats.

Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) a member of the Blue Dogs, is scheduled to join Minnick on a late afternoon conference call to announce the endorsement. Minnick ran for Senate in 1996.