Franken bypasses Coleman as voters react to attack ads

[Love Bug]

Source: Minneapolis StarTribune

DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken has moved into his first solid lead over incumbent Republican Norm Coleman, according to a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll.

For Coleman, there is little good news in the poll. The number of voters who view him unfavorably continues to grow, the number who see him favorably is falling, and his job-approval rating has slipped to 38 percent — his lowest ever in the Minnesota Poll.

The Minnesota Poll results suggest Franken may be riding the coattails of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who has widened a lead over Republican John McCain in polls across the country. But the advertising war in the race also appears to be a factor decidedly in Franken’s favor.

The survey shows that 56 percent of poll respondents consider ads criticizing Franken to be “mostly unfair personal attacks.” Only 42 percent said the same about ads criticizing Coleman.



Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/30451119.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUs

---

The ads by Coleman against Franken have been nothing but cheap shots in an attempt to make the election about character. Franken's response ads have been very funny and give facts about Coleman's record. This is all Coleman has, folks. He can't run on his record because he's been a Bush enabler and that doesn't cut it with the electorate any more.

Go, Al!

[truthisfreedom]

1. Yay!

Woohoo!

[Piewhacket]

55. Yea!!!! Go Al

Thank Gd. Was worryin. He was trailing. (relief!)
Way to go AL!

[ptolle]

70. good news X 2

For me This is good news on two fronts. First I think Franken is the sort of thoughtful rational person that the country needs in a senatorial seat, and secondly if he wins it might possibly cause blowhardbillowlielly's head to explode.I've had confidence in the people of Minnesota to see through the atmosphere of BS that is the republican party and administration and the bankrupt ideology that drives it, but I hate to underestimate their ability to take everything down to the lowest possible common denominator.

[awoke_in_2003]

76. Nah, Bill's head is like a hot water tank...

when pressure gets too high in a hot water tank, a valve opens and releases water, thereby dropping pressure. When the pressure gets too high in Bill's head, a valve opens and releases some brains. That explains why he sound stupider and stupider as time goes on :)

[Piewhacket]

88. Two great reasons,

ptolle sez: First I think Franken is the sort of thoughtful rational person that the country needs in a senatorial seat, and secondly if he wins it might possibly cause blowhardbillowlielly's head to explode.

So its win-win! and that's great, because I wouldn't want to have to choose which is the better reason.

[Tigress DEM]

91. I just sent Al $50 more dollars so he can keep on HOLLARING!

It ain't over til the fat lady sings.... but this IS encouraging.

[tridim]

2. I just knew Al would eventually take Coleman

And dog gone it, people like him!

[The Magistrate]

4. Yes They Do, Sir: He Will Make A Splendid Ornament To The Senate

[JoFerret]

74. Ornaments missus

Just what the senate needs. Harrumph.
(I like Al Franken. Coleman is a Bushack)

[calimary]

107. Looks like we may be starting that Al Franken Decade we heard about so long ago!

It's not over yet, though, guys. Don't start measuring the drapes yet. We've still gotta WIN this thing.

[Arugula Latte]

108. Lol! I was thinking the same thing ...

Almost 30 years later, but we'll take it! :bounce:

[Jane Austin]

3. Here's the bottom line from the link in the OP -

The survey, conducted Tuesday through Thursday by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among 1,084 likely Minnesota voters, shows Franken leading Coleman 43 to 34 percent. Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley is supported by 18 percent of respondents.

Franken’s lead is outside the poll’s margin of sampling error, plus or minus 3.7 points.

[Love Bug]

80. Well, duh. I can't believe I left out the most important part!

I blame the lateness of the hour. Yeah, that sounds like a good excuse...:blush:

[Jane Austin]

87. Your post cheered me more than you can imagine.

I was happy to go find the numbers.

[Tigress DEM]

92. Ditto!

[billyoc]

5. Oh, please, I just want to hear BIll O'Reilly have to say "Senator Al Franken".

:rofl:

[rockymountaindem]

8. Not to mention Rushbo

Double :rofl: :rofl:

[meow2u3]

41. I can't wait for Sen. Franken to mimic Rushbo on the Senate floor

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[AllHereTruth]

13. How bout this:

"Senator Al Franken met with Majority leader Hillary Clinton today..."

"In other news President Obama..."

[Snotcicles]

50. Thats the sound of a better future, and the restoration of American respectability. nt

[not fooled]

111. Tick tock...tick tock

"Senator Al Franken met with Majority leader Hillary Clinton today..."

"In other news President Obama..."

Limpballs...O'Lielly...:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[edbermac]

16. Bill will call him Senator Stuart Smalley.

:rofl:

[rpannier]

18. maybe bill will make do with his threat and run for the Senate himself

He'd have to move somewhere he could win.
Too bad for him he didn't move to Idaho sooner and run for Tapping Larry Craigs seat

[Frisbee]

42. I ber Larry Craig...

would LOVE Billo to tap his seat! :rofl:

[CruisePlanner]

37. Great point!!!

Oh how sweet that would be! I had never even thought of that prospect. Too funny.

[DWilliamsamh]

45. I got $5 on Rush calling him "Senator Smalley"

He and O'Reilly are too petty and immature to give him the respect he deserves if he wins.

[NegSpin]

66. O'Reilly

You have a really good comment!!!

[tedoll78]

6. I think this is my crying point

I won't cry if Obama wins. I'll dance around, I'll have a drink or two (which I never do these days), I'll sing a bit.. but no crying.

But a victory speech by Franken? Wow. Time for happy tears. :D

[minfellman]

59. Me too

The events of 2002 still haunt me. The last time I saw Paul was on the old green bus going from West St. Paul to Mankato for the American Legion and VFW endorsements. It was a beautiful fall day and Paul seemed to absolutely glow in his confidence. There is no way he could lose. Then the plane crash and the memorial and I watched the local media do the bidding of their masters and go on the attack. Pat Kessler and Esme Murphy in particular setting up to do their hatchet job in order to get their creature Norm elected. This man is beyond sleazy. He went to Pro-life groups and promised to be pro-life without going publically on record. He is simply a wholly owned creature of the media and the corporatist. Standing in the rain, holding up a Mondale sign on an overpass on election eve and trying to find a few more votes. It was close but sleaze won. Six years later, one million dead Iraqis, an economy in shambles, billions and billions missing and yet nearly half of Minnesotans would vote for him. Amazing. I think Paul might have been able to Stop this madness or at least slow it down so he had to go.hardest thing I ever did was not choke this scumbag when I saw him sitting in Pauls chair.

[Love Bug]

81. Wordy, word, word minfellman!

A good friend of mine works in the same building where Coleman has his office. She hasn't run into him in the hall yet, but she says if she does it'll be all she can to to not choke the ever lovin' shit out of him for his interviews in front of a plane right after the Wellstone crash.

[rockymountaindem]

7. I didn't know that was a three-way race

Good for Franken. I think it would be a real kick (not to mention another seat) if he got in there. I know he really wants to win that seat back for Wellstone, too.

[FVZA_Colonel]

9. Let's hope this is a good sign across the board for Democrats,

including the Presidential race.

[last_texas_dem]

10. Awesome

I'm one of those "out-of-state contributors" that Coleman was whining about a few months back because of the number of them that Franken was attracting. This race is the Senate race most important to me, because I'm a long-time fan of Franken and because I've been wanting to see slimeball Coleman out of Paul Wellstone's seat for as long as he's been there.

It is great to see momentum in Franken's direction, and Coleman's dirty tactics looking to be backfiring. The size of the margin does give me a little pause; since there is another recent poll with a Coleman lead, I suspect the truth is probably somewhere between the two. Also, I *think* I remember the Star-Tribune's polls having a tendency to overrepresent the Democratic vote in the past. Still, the shift towards Franken in recent months is indisputable, and I hope to see it continue.

[AllHereTruth]

11. Franken is a true Progressive.

But truely, don't count out Barkley.

[davepc]

12. Whos Dean Barkley?

[rpannier]

20. I think he's the Independence (Independent?) Party candidate

He's been an advisor for the Kinky Friedman campaign in Texas and for Ariana Huffington in CA
He was chairman of Jesse Ventura's Campaign for governor.

So, he's not necessarily a lightweight
He held the Senate seat before Norm Coleman (he was appointed by then Gov Ventura to the seat)

[raysr]

14. Christ, How would you like

to debate Franken, a stand up comic? Talk about death by a thousand cuts!

[niceypoo]

15. Awesome!

This is wonderful news!

[Indenturedebtor]

17. Sweet! Now theres a smart guy whos time has come! n/t

[myrna minx]

19. Thanks Love Bug. Coleman's personal attack ads rival the attack ads against

Wellstone in 2002. Thanks for this post, which is a good response to all of the Minnesota panic threads yesterday. :hi:

[Lorien]

21. Franken bypasses Coleman as voters react to attack ads

Source: Star Tribune

By Kevin Duchschere , Star Tribune


DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken has moved into his first solid lead over incumbent Republican Norm Coleman, according to a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll.

The survey, conducted Tuesday through Thursday by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among 1,084 likely Minnesota voters, shows Franken leading Coleman 43 to 34 percent. Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley is supported by 18 percent of respondents.

Franken’s lead is outside the poll’s margin of sampling error, plus or minus 3.7 points.

For Coleman, there is little good news in the poll. The number of voters who view him unfavorably continues to grow, the number who see him favorably is falling, and his job-approval rating has slipped to 38 percent — his lowest ever in the Minnesota Poll.

Coleman led Franken by four points in last month’s Minnesota Poll.

The new results stand in contrast to the findings of a SurveyUSA poll, commissioned by KSTP-TV and also conducted this week, that shows Coleman with a 10-point lead over Franken, 43 to 33 percent.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/30451119.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUeyD8_o8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

[Roxy66]

22. Outstanding!!! Go Al!!

[rocktivity]

23. All Franken has to do it get a screen capture

of Coleman's reaction to George Galloway's testimony. He could win the race on that alone!

:rofl:
rocknation

[Lorien]

24. Oops! Dupe. n/t

[madrchsod]

25. is he getting any support from the national party?

i haven`t heard much about his campaign...

[mascarax]

40. DSCC Ad

I saw one DSCC TV ad - think it started running recently. Al still needs help...we gotta get Rubber Stamp Norm out of there! (Recent rubber stamp example was bailout. Norm's immediate response was: we need to take action & just give Henry Paulson $700B, no questions asked.)

Anyway (sorry, I tend to get off on Norm rants), please watch this DSCC ad: "Al Franken Hates Puppies"!

http://blogs.twincities.com/politics/2008/10/dscc_al_franken_hates_puppies.html

[mduffy31]

73. Well I live here

and you can't watch TV without getting bombarded by tv ads. During Bones last week I counted 7 ads for Coleman and 3 for Franken in 1 hour of TV. Every one of the Coleman ads were just brutal attacks on Franken.

[LuckyLib]

75. I've never seen anything like the Coleman ads. Vicious, lies, snarky, sleazy, you name it.

I called his office and said I was offended as a voting citizen at the level of vitriol in these ads. Normie is a sleaze. With any luck, this will all come home to bite him.

[bullimiami]

26. and polling is supposedly scientific?

2 polls
one has franken with a 9 point lead
one has coleman with a 10 point lead

seriously. someone is selling a load of horse pucks here.

[earthlover]

29. I think both polls are off!

it will be a close race

[elocs]

43. I heard that also this morning on Minnesota Public Radio.

Yes, two polls with a 19 point difference between them and having opposite leaders. Wacky.

[Dumak]

27. That's wonderful news!!!

Al has a great work ethic and would make an excellent senator. And a big FU to all you minnesotans who voted for norm coleman over walter mondale in the first place - how deranged is that?

[SomeGuyInEagan]

32. Regarding Mondale ...

... keep in mind that the votes already cast for Wellstone via absentee ballot were essentially lost, they could not be applied toward Mondale even though he was Wellstone's proxy. In Minnesota, you can can vote absentee about a month before the election and quite a few did, mailing in or hand-delivering their vote for Wellstone via absentee ballot weeks before Paul, Sheila and the others died.

As it was, polls indicated that it was a close race about two weeks before the crash. However, in typical Wellstone fashion, he kicked it into overdrive mid-October and was pulling away from Coleman. And Coleman knew it.

In the week following the crash, give Coleman credit for stepping back and suspending his campaign. That was the proper thing to do, not only as a human being but politically. Minnesotans appreciated that. Then the memorial service - which started out as a very lovely and loving tribute to the Wellstones - turned into a mess. Many here did not like what that memorial service turned into and it was broadcast live on television and radio throughout the state. That sort of thing does play well with Minnesotans and gave the Republican National staff what they needed to spin even bigger lies about the event, so they (the national staff) took the low, well-financed road with typical Atwater/Rove lies and tactics while Coleman stumbled along.

Still, Mondale came close ... I think it was 50-47 or so.

Coleman is the Guiliani of Minnesota. At the beginning of 2001, Guiliani was looking at being term-limited out of a job, dealing with a messy public divorce and health issues. Three weeks before the 2002 election, Coleman was looking at certain defeat and a very questionable marriage. He looked rather dazed during the events that put him into office in late October and early November.

We in Minnesota miss Paul terribly. His death marked a turning point for our state which we are trying to correct.

[Bosso 63]

39. All true.

[lamp_shade]

28. I'd have never dreamed he'd get this far. You go Al.

[RBInMaine]

30. GOOD ! THIS IS HOW DEMS NEED TO RUN ! BLAST THESE REPUBLICAN SCUMBAGS HARD !!

[harmonicon]

31. whoa.... 18% ?!?!

Isn't that the real story here? I don't see how this can be seen as being between Franken and Coleman anymore.... maybe 18% doesn't seem like a hell of a lot, but it's not that far behind 34%, especially when the same poll shows 5% apparently aren't figured into this.

[Leopolds Ghost]

33. Rather large margin of error between the two polls

I could see the headline being written the opposite way.

[ChazII]

34. Great way to start

a weekend.

[zanne]

35. You mean like this ad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsszXlPZc5Y

[xxqqqzme]

51. Is that ad actually running

on television? It is extremely lame and I miss the point, if it is trying to make one.

[Hansel]

71. Yes. Coleman's and the RNC's ads are really disgusting.

I knew this wouldn't play well in MN. When I saw the 1st one I concluded that Coleman really didn't want to win. Minnesotans elect "nice" people. That's how we got stuck with Pawlenty. Because he play such a "nice" guy in his ads. Well that and we always have someone run in the Independent spot that ends up spilting the Progressive ticket. And we don't have instant runoff.

Franken's ads are pitch perfect and he's done a really good job combatting Coleman's garbage. I actually enjoy Franken's ads.

MN is not as purple as it might seem from the outside. Well, except for the Vikings and Prince.

[Nevernose]

103. But the response ad is BRILLIANT.

Produced by the DCSC.

[Eric J in MN]

36. Help Al Franken.

There are polls going either way. He could use the help.

http://www.alfranken.com

[Snotcicles]

53. Al Franken would have the Paul Wellstone effect, he would make them all be better Senators. nt

[blue97keet]

38. Maybe it's the bailout

Maybe it's because Franken said he would have opposed the Paulson bailout and Coleman voted for the bailout? Maybe it's the economy stupid. A MN Dem.

[elocs]

44. This is the poll with Franken behind:

http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2008/10/frankencoleman.php

In the race for Senate, Sen. Norm Coleman is showing a strong lead against Al Franken in a poll also released by SurveyUSA. But the interesting change since the last poll is the surge towards Independent Dean Barkley.

Coleman is up 43 percent to Franken's 33 percent. Barkley has a whopping 19 percent:

Compared to an identical SurveyUSA poll released 3 weeks ago, Franken is down 10 points; Coleman is up 2 points; Barkley is up 5 points. Barkley today gets 27% of the vote among seniors, 31% of the vote among Independents and 30% of the vote among those focused on health care. Combined with the 5% of voters who tell SurveyUSA they are undecided, 1 in 4 today vote for neither Coleman nor Franken.

[speedoo]

46. Finally! I hope Franken pulls this off, not only because he's a Democrat..

... but it would be great for him to be in the Senate.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

47. Woohoo!!! Thank GOD! nt

[WillyT]

48. WooHoo !!! - Big K & R !!!

GO AL!!!

:bounce::woohoo::bounce:

[mckara]

49. Would Al Make the Senate 59-41?

[AllyCat]

64. Oh please , oh please, oh please!

I've donated to his campaign since we have no contested races here (except POTUS)

[happyslug]

82. 60 is the Magic Number, it is the number needed to end filibusters.

Remember a Filibuster is where you have at least 41 votes (out of 100) to stop any debate on a law. The law then comes up to an up and down vote where you only need 51 votes. Thus a Filibuster is a way to prevent a vote from ever occurring. No vote no way to get 51 votes. Under Senate rules debate continue until the debate ends and debate ends when 60 Senators vote to end the debate. The House rules under different rules and a filibuster is impossible in the House of Representatives, but the Senate has a long history of permitting Filibusters thus no movement to change the Rules (The rules were last changed in the 1970s, prior to the 1970 you needed 67 votes to end a Filibuster, thus the key to passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act was NOT the Senate vote for the act (LBJ always had more then 50 votes for that, it took him three months to get the 68 votes to end the Filibuster).

My point is we need 60 Senators, not 59, Right now the Senate is 50-49-1 (Sanders from Vermont is a Socialist thus the 1, but he tends to vote with the Democrats, Lieberman is technically a Democrat but defeated the Democratic Candidate in his last re-election race).

2008 Senate Races:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_2008

12 Democrats Senate held seats are up for election in 2008 (Including Biden, who is also running for Vice President, but if he wins BOTH elections the Democratic Governor of Delaware will pick his successor as Senator). Of these 9 are considered "Safe" seats, i.e. Democrats will hold on to them.

23 Republican Senate held seats are up for election in 2008 (This includes two Senate seats to fill in Senate seats where the Senator retired early). Of these Seven seats are considered Safe Republican Seats.

That leaves 3 Democratic seats up AND 16 GOP held seats up for election (total 19). The Democrats only have to win 11 of these seats to get the 60 votes needed (Plus, of course the 9 safe seats). Can the Democrats win 20 of the 35 seats up for election? The election looks like a Democratic Gain but will it be 11 (12 if you want to get rid of Lieberman)?

Thus the real question is can the Democrats win the 12 seats the Democrats hold now AND an addition 11 seats to get 60 Senate Seats (12 if you want to get rid of Lieberman). Total needed to win 23 (24 if you want to kick out Lieberman, or make him NOT needed by either party, his strength is the Senate is 50-49 with him holding the 51st vote).

[lebkuchen]

86. I'm able to contribute this year

and senate races have received some $ at every paycheck. I want to see 60 seats, and I especially want to see Franken and Hagen in the Senate.

[Blue Fire]

52. Uplifting!

It'll be wonderful for Minnesota to return to it's progressive roots and dispose of ABnormAL. And the comment section is amusingly filled with the whining of the right wing ankle-biters.

[enki23]

54. you should see the slime coleman is running up here...

i see two or three coleman ads for every one franken ad, or so it seems, and every one is about as sleazy as you can get.

[OmahaBlueDog]

56. Seriously, thank you for posting this

I'm a Nebraskan, but I've been supporting Franken with donations (albeit small ones) because of his books, work on AA, support for the USO, and general overall hope for the cause. Coleman is slime, and it was a sad day when he won that seat after the death of Paul Wellstone.

[scarface2004]

57. franken for president!

next stop the white house! his sarcastic sense of humor is needed now more than eva!!

[Yavin4]

58. If Al Wins, He Will Have Some Big Shoes To Fill

Minnesota is home of some of the best Progressive Senators in U.S. history, Wellstone, Mondale, and the great Hubert Humphrey.

[ooglymoogly]

60. Good on ya Al....Coleman is your everyday

Rep-tile crook. To coin a word

[wryter2000]

61. Time for another donation

Let me add my voice to the chorus who want to hear O'Reilly say "Senator Al Franken."

[mzmolly]

62. GREAT news!

:toast:

[LSK]

63. Thank God! 60 Senate seats is becoming a distinct possibility!!

[Dangerously Amused]

65. Go Al!

[Mad_Dem_X]

67. Yes! Go, Al! nt

[mod mom]

68. WTF Survey USA poll for MN w Coleman up by 10 ONLY POLLED WHITE PEOPLE

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=7ba45926-59fc-419d-84b3-c114dcb828d7

I noticed a FL poll by Survey USA that had McCain up by 1 had 21% of Af Am backing McCain. What's up w them?

[Thor_MN]

106. They claim they polled 900 people, but only include 725 in the breakdowns

Sounds like some serious manipulation of data to get the desired outcome, which is what passes for science in rightwing circles. Outline the conclusion first then go get the data to support it. I would ignore this poll if I didn't think that the GOP is setting the plate for fraud in Minnesota. Just too many things happening that make me think that they are laying the ground work to steal the state.

[DUlover2909]

69. Awesome! Send him some $ if you can!

[happygoluckytoyou]

72. WE LOVE YOU AL..... please put your foot on the neck of the GOP.... ya'betcha winky winky

[nam78_two]

77. Yay Al!

:bounce:

[lebkuchen]

78. The dems will bet 60 senate seats, i feel certain

despite purged demo voter rolls and Diebold.

[happyslug]

83. See my post above.. It is possible

All the Democrats need to do is win all 12 of the Senate Seats presently held by a Democrat, and gain another 12 out of 23 seats presently held by the GOP (and up for election this year).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3525930&mesg_id=3526799

[RidinMyDonkey]

79. Good for Al!

This is what I've been waiting to see. It's about time Minnesota blued up again, now we just have to deal with Pawlenty for a while and we can all be happy.

Thank you to the out of state DUers who donated to Al! I wasn't able to make a very large donation this year. I'm very thankful to other dems who have picked up the slack.

[hasssan1]

84. Excellent , I hope all wins big. Minnesota people are the nicest people i ever met

[MetaTrope]

85. Am I the only one who is a bit stumped by the word "bypass" in the headline?

As if Franken is taking some sort of abnormal route, or something?

[Tigress DEM]

90. More like having to bypass a lump in the street that isn't moving.

[Tigress DEM]

89. I can't even watch Coleman's repuked ads. Lies. Slander.

One of the 527s put out an ad that is a parody: paraphrasing see link below



Al Franken
Sank This Ship!
Crashed These Trains!
Hates Puppies!

Norm Coleman’s attacks on Al Franken have gotten pretty ridiculous.

Coleman’s Ridiculous Attacks
Narrator: The truth? Al Franken overpaid his taxes…and it didn’t cost you a penny.

Norm Coleman?
He voted for billions to rebuild Iraq… for huge tax breaks to oil companies…
and against cheaper prescription drugs

And Minnesotans have paid the price.



http://blogs.twincities.com/politics/2008/10/dscc_al_franken_hates_puppies.html

[Nambe]

93. Franken pulls ahead in new Minn. poll

Source: Politico

A new Star Tribune Minnesota poll released yesterday shows a 13-point jump in support in the last month for Democratic comedian-turned-politician Al Franken, who's now taken his first clear lead, 43 percent to 34 percent, in the much-watched race against Minnesota incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman.

The Star Tribune poll also shows support for the relatively low-profile campaign of Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley at a high watermark of 18 percent, with most of his support drawn from Coleman, in what may be an indication of local unhappiness with Washington in general and Republicans in particular. Franken continues to lead Coleman, though, in a hypothetical two-candidate matchup.

Two trends seem to be contributing to Franken's lead in the Star Tribune poll, which also showed Coleman's job-approval rating at a new low of 38 percent. In what's been a fiercely contested campaign, Coleman has taken heat for the tenor of his advertising, with 56 percent of respondents seeing ads aimed at Franken as “mostly unfair personal attacks,” while just 42 percent said the same about those aimed at Coleman.

The poll also found Democrats have opened a substantial lead in party identification, with 42 percent of likely voters self-identifying as Democrats, compared with just 26 percent self-identifying as Republicans. ...

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14274.html

[Faygo Kid]

94. Yes! Give Bill Orally a heart attack, Minnesota, and elect Stuart Smalley.

[Ken Burch]

97. "...because he's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggone it... people like him!"

n/t.

[Eric J in MN]

95. Al Gore supports Al Franken.

Gore was in Minneapolis today at the University of MN.

Al Franken gave a speech, and Gore gave a speech in support of Al Franken.


Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Al Franken, and Al Gore


I was there.

http://blog.alfranken.com/2008/10/04/two-als-unite-for-change-2/

[Faygo Kid]

102. And Al Kaline, my boyhood hero. Maybe even Al Bundy.

[Ken Burch]

110. And, of course, Paul Simon says you can call HIM Al.

n/t.

[Ken Burch]

96. Is the Independence Party a group of Ross Perot diehards?

n/t.

[Eric J in MN]

99. Dean Barkley was chairman of Jesse Ventura's campaign for governor.

The former governor who previously was a professional wrestler.

[Ken Burch]

100. Thanks for the info.

[saltpoint]

98. So many bad Republicans out there who deserve a resounding defeat,

among them the loathsome Norm Coleman.

You go, Al.

[Tarheel_Dem]

101. Let's hope the American people view Palin's negative attacks in the same

vain as those of Minnesotans. With an economy in the toilet, I hope Americans are grownup enough to discount the lies of the McSame/Failin' campaign.

[Laelth]

104. k&r for Al Franken

:dem:

-Laelth

[AnneD]

105. Franken has one thing that Coleman will never have....class

After reading that his mother has finally succumbed to Alzheimer's, I sent him a consolation note. I worked for a while in an Alzheimer's unit and I know how it affects families. I was just a person that has been there-sending condolences. Imagine my shock and surprise when he sent me the nicest personal thank you note in return. He was very gracious indeed. He didn't have too, but he did. I have had immense respect for him ever since. It shows breeding, character, and class. Minnesota will like their new Senator.

[ibegurpard]

109. He's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggone it people like him!

Go Al!