Franken Buys 2nd TV Ad In Re-Election Campaign

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Sen. Al Franken has released another television ad in his re-election campaign.

The 60-second ad begins airing statewide Wednesday. It features a woman from Ham Lake who was infected with meningitis blamed on a steroid produced by the New England Compounding Center. Franken worked on a new law which cracks down on compounding pharmacies whose practices were linked to the outbreak.

The woman featured in the ad, Holly Peterson, says she's a Republican. The campaign says the Democratic senator heard directly from Peterson and other Minnesotans who were sickened by the tainted drugs.

Federal Communications Commission filings show Franken's campaign is spending at least $102,000 for the ad this week alone.

Republicans seeking to take on Franken include state Sen. Julianne Ortman, investment banker Mike McFadden, St. Louis County Commissioner Chris Dahlberg and state Rep. Jim Abeler.