Franken cuts Coleman's lead in half

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

From 22 points in Feb. to 10 points now
---
A newly-released poll indicates that the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota has tightened dramatically since satirist and author Al Franken announced his candidacy.

The poll, conducted on March 7 by independent pollster Rasmussen Reports, shows Senator Norm Coleman leading Franken 46% to 36%. Rasmussen notes that "incumbents who poll below 50% are considered potentially vulnerable." In addition, Franken holds a lead among voters under age 30.

The survey polled 500 likely voters and has a margin of error of +/- 4.5%. It is the first survey of likely voters so far in the campaign. However, a survey of registered voters conducted by Survey USA immediately prior to Franken's Feb. 14 announcement shows Sen. Coleman with a 22 point lead, as compared to the 10 point lead he holds in the poll conducted just three weeks later.

"This poll just confirms what we've known for the past few weeks," said Franken spokesman Andy Barr. "Senator Coleman is vulnerable, and Al has the early momentum in this race."

[LSK]

1. Go Al go!

K&R

[Nickster]

2. They underestimate Al at their own peril. If I was Al, I'd challenge Normy to as

many public debates as possible.

[FatDave]

11. Just how good a debater is Franken?

I've heard he's good, but I've never witnessed it. Didn't he seriously smack down Ann Coulter a couple times?

[AnneD]

15. His tongue is so sharp....

his opponents are still trying to figure out what he said as their heads fall off their neck...sorry for the graphic-but you get the point.

[Common Sense Party]

35. Yeah, but he only has 2 minutes for a response.

Al hems and haws and "uhhhhh"s so much, he might not be able to get his point across in the time alotted.

He needs to speed up the delivery.

[IndyOp]

38. He is faster in debates than on radio, based on what I've seen & heard. (n/t)

[bunkerbuster1]

58. Doing radio is not the same as performing live

Those "uhs" that had people so annoyed typically occurred when he was doing some kind of monologue, or sussing out how he was supposed to handle the next break. Radio stuff.

I don't think he'll have any trouble in a debate with Coleman, and given how much this race means to him personally (read his treatment of how the republicans exploited the Wellstone funeral sometime in Lies and the Lying Liars if you doubt his passion), I think he'll be at the top of his game.

[AnneD]

62. Debate is much different...

In fact, I think he was a champion debater of some sort if memory serves.

You cannot judge someone as it says in the Bible, but you can tell them by their fruit.
I sent an e-mail of condolence to him after hearing that his mother died of Alzheimer's. He had mentioned it very briefly once when talking about Wellstone. I work as a Nurse sometimes in Long Term Care and I understand how difficult it is for the families. Who am I-nobody really. I am in Texas and I have relatives that are not so nice and my name gives it away. I never expected anything.

And yet he took the time to send me a very sweet personal response that I cherish. That attention to the personal, to the things that really matter in life is what makes people winners. I hope he does win the election. If he doesn't, I still think he is a winner. This race is very personal to him and he will fight tooth and nail for it. My money is with Al on this one.

[Nickster]

16. Her and Bill-O n/t

[annabanana]

20. Do a little stand up in a couple of dives for a few years. .

It'll sharpen your wits or send you cowering into a hole.

[NewJeffCT]

47. Supposedly he destroyed Coulter when he debated her here in CT

I remember even Freepers were lamenting how Ann The Man was beaten so soundly.

There was a question about which 20th century historical figure they would like to be and what would they do.

Coulter wanted to be FDR so she could stop the New Deal.

Franken quickly followed that with Hitler, so he could stop the Holocaust.

Kind of shows you what type of person each one is...

[rurallib]

23. Heard Al is a damned good wrestler and still in great shape

Challenge Smilin' Normy to 2 falls out of 3, Al. Wipe that smile off his face.

[Nickster]

24. Well you have to mix the two and make it interesting. Have a debate question and then

they wrestle to see who gets the points for answering the question. Most points at the end officially wins the debate!

[rurallib]

30. There was a story I heard on the radio of Al and O'Liely at a

party or something after Al "Lying Liars" book came out. O'liely shot off his mouth and Franken went after him. It took three good sized men to hold Franken back. And O'Liely was told about Franken's athletic ability and chose to leave quickly.
I'd love to see Franken mop the floors and aisles with Normy.

[WI_DEM]

3. That's encouraging

Hopefully Frankens numbers will improve among those over 30.

[Cooley Hurd]

12. I would think fans of the original SNL (who are now well into their 40's +)

...would connect w/ Al.:thumbsup:

[tridim]

28. It's pretty funny to spring that fact on older Republicans

I once told my Mom (who claims that Franken is dumb because he's a performer) that she has been laughing his jokes since the mid 70's. She didn't have a clue that he was a lead writer at SNL during the "good" years.

[Blue Belle]

43. It might also be hard for them to disconnect him from SNL too...

I hope Al wins though... Coleman is beyond despicable.

[Clark2008]

56. Fans of the original SNL are well into their late 50s - that would

be my parents. Heck, my Dad's in his early 60s.

But, I'm well into my 30s and I'm still a fan. :)

[AlCzervik]

4. Go Al, Go Al, Go Al!!!

[tridim]

5. Al is going to destroy Norm on election day..

And even though he was just average as a radio personality, he's going to be a great senator.

I'm guessing that Minnesotans are just starting to understand that he's the real deal, and not just a famous comedy writer.

[AlCzervik]

8. back to the used car lot with Norm, quick what's his jacket size?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. heh heh.

where's the popcorn?
salt? butter?

GO AL!

[Beaverhausen]

7. K&R for Al

[CottonBear]

9. Oh boy! You go Al! He's gonna stomp Coleman's ass in the election! n/t

[SoFlaJet]

10. and how friggin crazy

is THAT gonna drive the RWers over at Faux Noise?

[CottonBear]

18. They will be apoplectic! Hee hee! n/t

[IChing]

13. I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and dog-gone it, people like me."

Damn right we do Al,

go get em

This is very good news so early in the race,
he is working hard in town meetings and at a grassroots level

nominated

[Nimrod2005]

14. EXCELLENT NEWS!!! GO AL GO...We would love to see you remove that other

rightwing bastard!!!

[in_cog_ni_to]

17. WOOHOO!!!! I'm going to donate to his campaign when the election gets closer.

He'll kick Coleman's ass!:woohoo:

[Cabcere]

19. LOL - I initially read that as

"Franken cuts Coleman's head in half," and immediately thought: remind me never to f*ck around with Al Franken! :)

[SoFlaJet]

22. hey he'd kick your friggin ASS

he's a rastler-although I think O'Really kind of freaked him out that day on the book tour a few years ago

[Cabcere]

29. Oh, I have no doubt about that.

Glad he's on our side! :) But what happened on the book tour w/O'Reilly? :shrug: I must've missed that...

[SoFlaJet]

33. BillO was yelling at him

to shut up you had your turn nobody wants to hear you-you know being an asshat like usual

[Cabcere]

36. Ahh, I see.

Thanks for the info. :hi: Funny, I kind of feel that way about ol' Billo - that he should shut up, just SHUT UP, and failing that, someone should cut his mic. ;)

[Left Is Write]

39. That's how I read it too!

:rofl:

[DavidDvorkin]

21. Wow! Encouraging and exciting

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

25. And Franken's barely started here.

This is gonna get good.
:popcorn:

[MurrayDelph]

26. Darn my dyslexia

I thought the headline was "Franken Cuts Coleman's HEAD in Half"!

[Cabcere]

31. You're not alone, MurrayDelph

See my post #19. :hi:

[Parche]

27. AL

And doggone it people in Minnesota WILL vote for Al

[Dinger]

32. Yay Al!!!

IS there a place we can donate to his campaign (even if we don'tlive in Minnesota)?

[NYCGirl]

48. There sure is! Here's the link:

http://www.alfranken.com/

[Madspirit]

34. k&r and whoohoohoo!! n/t

[BootinUp]

37. Franken will win

Anyone wanna bet agin' him ?

[K8-EEE]

40. GO AL GO!!

I'm kind of surprised that many people would vote for Coleman!

[SammyWinstonJack]

41. LOL! Love it!

[sendero]

42. Can you imagine...

... just how much it's going to piss off the wingnut droolers when Al Franken gets elected!

I just can't WAIT!!!!!

[Canuckistanian]

44. I thought it said "cut his HEAD in half"

I've got to figure out how increase my font size....

[Robeysays]

50. i did the same thing....

/disappointment

[Synnical]

45. Rasmussen is reporting this?

That's fantastic. They're notorious for being Right Wing.

Then, my brain thinks, is then a Rovian tactic? How sad is that?

[Bosso 63]

46. Worst kept secret in Minnesota...

is Coleman's mistress. There have been a lot of rumors, his wife lives in L.A., I don't know if its true or not, I'm just sayin'.

[dpbrown]

49. A 4.5% margin of error makes this a dead heat

Franken will trounce Mr. Teeth.

[stevedeshazer]

52. Yo Teeth

[PinkyisBlue]

51. Franken is one of the brightest guys out there!!

And his books are witty and insightful. I wish I lived in Minnesota so I could vote for him.

[Lex]

53. Everytime I saw this thread pop up today, I thought it said

"Franken cuts Coleman's Head in Half"

ON EDIT--Ok, I'm relieved to see I'm not the only one to read it this way!

[lovuian]

54. Go Al Go

Cheering him on
:patriot:

[jgraz]

55. My first reaction was: Coleman has a LEAD?

I think Coleman could lose running unopposed. The guy is such an empty suit.

It's gonna be awesome to see Al destroy him in the campaign.

[cooolandrew]

61. I feel that not everyone may of taken Al serious initally, he's broken down that image on the trail.

[jgraz]

63. Funny, I'm much more a fan of Political Al than I am of Comedian Al

Maybe I'm overconfident, but I can't see any outcome for that election other than Coleman getting his ass handed to him. My guess is that we'll start feeling sorry for Coleman before it's all over. Dude is just so outclassed.

[cali]

57. For some reason I keep reading your thread title as

Franken cuts Coleman's head in half. I don't even want to know what that says about me.

Go Al, go.

[terrya]

59. Besides taking back the White House, this would be the sweetest win in 2008.

Al Franken deserves to be in the United States Senate. It will be sweet indeed to remove that soulless, right wing piece of shite currently holding that seat.

[cooolandrew]

60. WTG Franken, he's sure to get there 1 down 9 more seats to gain and then the WH.

[sonias]

64. Sweet!

I can't wait until 2008 when Franken kicks Coleman out of office.
:woohoo:

Sonia

[AnnInLa]

65. I just wish the under-30 crowd voted as much

as the over-40 crowd. The youngsters could elect Franken if they are motivated to just get out and vote!

[jean]

66. Excellent news! And Al is just getting started! Normie, pack your bags!