Franken Takes Serious Lead in Senate Race

Former SNL comic persuades Minnesotans his candidacy is no joke

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 25, 2008 4:26 AM CDT

(Newser) – Al Franken is playing it straight on the Minnesota campaign trail and, doggone it, voters are liking it, the Washington Post reports. The comedian-turned-Democratic candidate, who now spends more time discussing ethanol policy than cracking jokes, has opened up a 6-point lead over his rival in the Senate race. Minnesota is one of the states the Democrats are aiming to flip to grab a filibuster-proof majority.

Republican Sen. Norm Coleman—who has tried to use Franken’s comedic past to attack him—was expected to win the race until the economy tanked and Americans turned sharply on the GOP. Most Minnesotans now take Franken seriously as a politician, but some still have their doubts. His candidacy is "like Tina Fey running for office," one undecided voter said. "Actually, maybe that's not such a bad idea," she added.

[Images (5)]

[Quotes (1)]

Democratic candidate for the Minnesota Senate Al Franken makes remarks at the National Jewish Democratic Council in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

Hillary Clinton campaigns for US Senate candidate, Democrat Al Franken during a rally at the University of Minnesota Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Al Franken, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for U. S. Senate from Minnesota, addresses delegates at the party's state convention in Rochester, Minn., June 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Jim Mone )

Confetti falls around former comedian Al Franken after he accepted the Democratic endorsement for U.S. Senate Senate from Minnesota Saturday, June 7, 2008 at the party's state convention. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., speaks at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

I think the people that are paying attention—the reason I'm doing so well right now—they understand that I'm talking about the issues that affect them and that I'm a serious guy. - Al Franken

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Coleman Takes Vote Battle to Top State Court

Franken picks Senate staffers as rival refuses to concede

(NEWSER) - Embattled former senator Norm Coleman is keeping alive the last fight of Election 2008 with an appeal to Minnesota's Supreme Court, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Coleman is arguing that a lower court that awarded Al Franken a 312-vote victory denied constituents their constitutional rights by rejecting some absentee ballots. Franken, meanwhile, has started picking his Senate staffers. More»

Franken Moves to Dismiss Coleman Lawsuit

Coleman hasn't met his burden of proof, he says

(NEWSER) - Al Franken asked judges today to dismiss a lawsuit that has bogged down Minnesota’s US Senate vote recount, saying Republican opponent Norm Coleman didn’t prove his claim that 2000 absentee ballots were improperly rejected. Since resting their case, Coleman’s lawyers have focused on using Franken’s witnesses to further argue that the state’s election system is flawed, the Minnesota Star-Tribune reports. More»

Coleman Team: 'Set Aside' This Election

GOP defense rests most of case; now it's Franken's turn

(NEWSER) - A lawyer for Norm Coleman suggested the election should be "set aside" in a letter to the court reviewing Minnesota’s US Senate election results, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. “Some courts have held that when the number of illegal votes exceeds the margin between the candidates—and it cannot be determined for which candidate those illegal votes were cast—the most appropriate remedy is to set aside the election.” More»

Minnesota Senate Race Hangs on Pair of Rulings

Court, Canvassing Board could shrink Coleman lead

(NEWSER) - Minnesota’s hotly contested Senate race now hinges on two fast-approaching decisions: a state Supreme Court ruling on standards for counting mistakenly rejected ballots (arguments to be heard tomorrow), and the Canvassing Board’s decision on the number of challenged ballots to be officially counted (review begins today). Republican incumbent Norm Coleman’s 192-vote lead over Al Franken is likely to shrink as the matters are finalized, Politico reports. More»

Minn. Board: Count Wrongly Rejected Ballots

Recommendation may help Franken surpass Coleman

(NEWSER) - In a victory for Al Franken, Minnesota officials voted unanimously today to recommend counting previously rejected absentee ballots, the Star Tribune reports. The state’s five-member Canvassing Board urged all 87 counties to count ballots that had been improperly discarded—a figure that could approach 1,600. Norm Coleman's camp is trying to block the move from taking place. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Franken Takes Serious Lead in Senate Race