Official: Al Franken To Run For Senate

(CBS/AP)  Comedian Al Franken has decided to run for U.S. Senate in Minnesota in 2008, a senior Democratic official from Minnesota said Wednesday.

Franken told the official, who did not want to be identified because Franken has not made an announcement, that he had decided to run in a recent conversation.

"He told me he was running," said the official.

Andy Barr, the political director of Franken's Midwest Values Political Action Committee, declined to comment.

Franken has been the longtime headline personality at liberal radio network Air America. The bankrupt network said Monday that is has reached a deal to be sold and that Franken's last show would be Feb. 14.

The news that Franken has decided to run for the Senate was not unexpected. Franken has been calling members of the Minnesota congressional delegation to get their input on a run, and he announced this week that he would be leaving his show on Air America Radio on Feb. 14. He told listeners he would be making a decision on a race soon.

In a swiftly issued statement, Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey said he was confident Minnesotans "will reject Franken's divisive, scorched earth attacks."

Should he win the Democratic primary in Minnesota, Franken would take on Republican Norm Coleman, a first-term senator who is among the Democrats' top targets. Coleman declined to comment Wednesday.

Franken, 55, was born in New York City, like Coleman, but grew up in St. Louis Park, Minn., a suburb of Minneapolis. He made his fame as a star and writer on "Saturday Night Live."

His PAC raised nearly $1 million last year.

[ressigmann]

Yeah just mabye he quit Air(heads) America because it was bankrupt, even after it repeatedly claimed it was not. My favorite Al Franken moment was when he held a press conference to state that after due deliberation he could not support President Bush. Apparently he failed to realize that everyone already knew he would not support President Bush, so what he felt the need to hold a press conference for was beyond me.

[teeus]

Dang. That would be pie HOLE. My bad.

[teeus]

'Can't keep a job at "Air America" '

Oh, shut your pie wole. It's obvious that he quit Air America SO HE CAN RUN FOR SENATE. Running for senate is truly not a default job for the out of work.

[bm6005]

Go Al!! Can't be any worse than the pro's in the Repub party.

[gunnerv1]

These are not the droids your looking for.

[gunnerv1]

Can't keep a job at "Air America" now he'll try to suck at the Governments Teat, also for life time benifits paid be guess who, you and me, the good 'ol trusty taxpayer.

[teeus]

"Franken is another example of the fringe's attempt to take control of the Democratic party."

More sound-bite info. You have no idea what Franken's position on any issue might be--except for the fact that he hates Coulter and Hannity et al and calls them on their c r a p.

But for you guys on the neocon side of things, that's enough, right?

[randalds]

MN can have him. That state is a big joke (but not a very fuuny one.) This would make MN and Frankin go together like peas and carrots.

Sincerely,

F. Gump (D-AL)
Posted by bigwhtpony at 04:24 PM : Feb 01, 2007

It will also add another Senator on the democratic Majority side too. MMMMmmmmmmm, being the ruling party feels good! Can't wait until 2008 and we get a super majority!

[bigwhtpony]

MN can have him. That state is a big joke (but not a very fuuny one.) This would make MN and Frankin go together like peas and carrots.

Sincerely,

F. Gump (D-AL)

[randalds]

What ever happened to the old Democrat concept of "Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what YOU can do for your country"??

..........


Posted by processor2 at 01:32 PM : Feb 01, 2007

It was changed by neocons who say "Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do TO your country!"

The old version is still strongly in force on the democratic side of the aisle.