Well, he has a chance. It is the Al Franken Decade, after all.

Sorry this is so long:

well that's good news. He'll be running (providing he gets the nomination) against Mr. Blow with the wind Norm Coleman.

-What we know of Coleman-
Coleman use to be a DFL (that's Democrat / Farm-Labor) until the republicans gained majority then switched sides. He originally wanted to run for governor but was bitch-slapped by Bush et al to run for the Senate against Wellstone. He was losing against Wellstone until Paul went down in a semi mysterious plane crash in Northern MN. A lot of DFL-ers where upset and made angry remarks which turned a lot of people off the DFL ticket, so Norm won. Up to the Nov Republican defeat Norm voted 90+% with Bush.
Norm has been one of the main mouthpieces for the admin to bitch about Kofi Annan, all the while ignoring the stink of decay coming from his backers. Since Nov he has been tacking hard to the center and is probably feeling a bit scared for his seat next year.

His office uses form-letters to reply to constituents contacting him, no biggie right? However, those letters often have nothing to do with the reason the constituent made contact. I've gotten my fair share, and it truely disinclines you from making the effort.

-What has been said about Coleman, but I can't verify beyond stories-
There has been fairly reliable sources that claim that even though Norm ran heavy on a "family values" ticket he lives with a mistress in the Twin Cities, while his family lives primarily in California. Now, this could well be just vicious rumor mongering, but I've talked to people who claim to have 1st hand knowledge of it. make of it what you will.

So, Al has been making noise about running for awhile. I've seen him in action and think he stands a decent shot of winning. He has made USO tours and is well recieved, he speaks well, makes good emotional contact and can be funny without being alienating. I truly think he would make a great public servant.

OMG political haiku!

Minnesota land-
Ten thousand lakes, and also:
Alternative pols

Franken would do more good in the Senate than on the radio. I suspect the recent deal to sell Air America Radio was made easier by his quitting his highly paid position. He must know (and probably likes) that if he gets in, he'll become the go-to-for-a-quote guy for the Lazy Media. But he's good enough, he's smart enough and doggone it, people like him. Well, not everybody. But that's their problem.