Al Franken Saying He Will Run for US Senate in Minnesota

Al Franken, former Saturday Night Live star and Air America talk show host, told prominent members of Minnesota's Democratic Farm Labor party that he will "definitely" be challenging incumbent Republican Senator Norm Coleman in 2008. The move comes one day after Franken left Air America; he had been with the troubled network since 2004 as its most prominent host.



The question, naturally, is whether Franken will be able to take on an incumbent senator. Despite criticism in the past, Franken stayed with Air America even as the network floundered, and his show was heard by about 2 million people per day. Franken comes with valuable name recognition and fund-raising power that any other Democratic Farm Labor members, in the opinion of the party itself, lack.

Whether Franken wins will be heavily dependent on how much the distaste with the republican government lasts. In Coleman's most recent race in 2002, he won with less than 2% of the vote. However, his win was primarily attributable to the death of incumbent Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone. This fact, along with the Republican's losses in 2004 indicating general anti-Republican sentiment, makes Coleman a tempting target for the Democrats.

[edit on 1/31/2007 by Togetic]

[edit on 1/31/2007 by Togetic]

Minnesota is a left-leaning state, so Franken may have a chance. Although he may be viewed as too left wing. Coleman seems from this observer to have been trying to stick to a centerist position.

I'm not sure what will happen here.

[edit on 2/1/2007 by djohnsto77]