Al Franken 10 Points Behind Norm Coleman

[Eric J in MN]

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/surveyusa_coleman_leads_franke.php

SurveyUSA: Coleman Leads Franken By 10 In Minnesota Senate Race
By Eric Kleefeld - March 17, 2008, 9:42AM

A new SurveyUSA poll from Minnesota gives Sen. Norm Coleman (R) a ten-point lead over Al Franken, an improvement for Coleman since their last poll a month ago:

Coleman (R) 51% (+4)
Franken (D) 41% (-5)

From the internals: Coleman has a 53%-39% lead among independents, and also is found to be leading 52%-39% among votes under the age of 35.

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer even further behind Norm Coleman, with Coleman leading by 57-28:

http://www.surveyusa.com/electionpolls.aspx

[ISUGRADIA]

1. Interesting that Nelson-Pallmeyer only polls one point better

than Darryl Stanton who Coleman leads 57-27

[loveable liberal]

2. fer cryin out loud its early!!!

10 points behind an incumbent before the real information comes out...not too shabby in my mind. Al is a Wellstone Democrat so I guess we'll see how bad the economy gets before the election and how bad the war(S) go. Al is just keeping his powder dry. Norm has his nose so far up Bush's a$$ he can smell his teeth. Fret not, my friends...

[ISUGRADIA]

3. And given the margain of error in the poll

it could be just as easily tied right now. Coleman is in trouble.

[Minnesota Raindog]

4. Al Franken is no Wellstone Democrat

A Wellstone Democrat would never have voted for the war like Franken said he would have. A Wellstone Democrat never would have believed the fairy tale spun by Colon Powell before the United Nations.

There is only one Wellstone Democrat in this race--Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.

[loveable liberal]

8. well, if we reduce it to a single issue i suppose you're right.

I've listened to Al almost every day when he was on Air America; he considered Paul his friend, and has stated he wants to emulate Paul as a senator. But I cannot dispute your pointed fact regarding this single issue.

[Rick Myers]

5. Biggest problem? Statewide is a tough job to win.

You have the Cities and the rest of the state, and it's similar to Ohio. Ohio really only has 8 Blue counties, and 80 red.

Al can win, but the GE will be dirty.

We all know Al, but what do the voters in 'We Ain't Canada, MN' think???

[dflprincess]

6. I thought what you needed to win is the cities

(meaning Minneapolis and St. Paul, not the whole metro), Duluth and the Iron Range. On a bright note, the first and second ring suburbs in the metro are getting bluer.

[USA_1]

9. Emphasize the War + Deficit During Campaign

... and pose the question, how do the Republicans plan to paying for Bush's war?

That should make the campaign easier for the Dems.

[Eric J in MN]

7. A different polling company finds them statistically tied.

From
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03/poll_sen_norm_coleman_rmn_narr.php

"March 22, 2008, 12:00AM

A new Rasmussen poll in Minnesota shows Sen. Norm Coleman (R) taking a narrow lead over Al Franken. Here are the numbers, compared to the previous poll from a month ago:

Coleman (R) 48% (+2)
Franken (D) 46% (-3)"

[CatholicEdHead]

10. Different than the Klobuchar campaign

She just ran the moderate line and cleaned house. Franken's past does not allow him that track in Minnesota. He has the base for sure, he needs to work on the Independents to get closer. Coleman is upsetting his base pretty bad (I read about the flames at the McLeod County GOP Convention a couple weeks back via local newspaper links). Norm is running right of Center right now, in a way of a conservative Democrat than a Republican tied into his base. He gives himself enough leeway to irritate the base but still get reelected on the swing Independents (given the Ventura years about a third to half of voters).

Franken has to run towards the Center more to have a shot, we all know the DFL base will vote for him no matter what.

[dflprincess]

11. Any details about the McLeod County Convention?

n/t

[CatholicEdHead]

12. Lots, and they do not like Normy, there was a shouting match made public

http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2008/03/mcleod-county-republicans-unhappy-with.html

The party leaders there really want 100% conservative purity or nothing at all.

Using Google, I came across the full story that was emailed to me a few weeks ago.

http://www.glencoenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=18&SubSectionID=31&ArticleID=19682

I would expect it to be this way across all of the redder areas of Minnesota, the SW, W Central, and the suburbs.

[Bosso 63]

13. I would love to see Franken and Coleman debate.

I'm thinking that would change the poll numbers.

[CatholicEdHead]

14. Outside groups are portraying him more as a Democrat than Republican

We have all seen this on Twin Cities TV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oEz3lzgDsI

Who are behind this group anyways? The American Future Fund.

[dflprincess]

15. That ad has got to hold the record for the most lies jammed into one political commercial.

I'm sure my neighbors must know whenever it's on as my screams of "*&$#@ WEASEL" echo through the building.

[Mister Ed]

16. Which means he has to try to run from his record instead of running on his record

...and try to run from his party affiliation as well.