Almanac: At the Capitol

“The Quinnipiac poll also gives Republican Senator Norm Coleman a 15-point lead over DFL challenger Al Franken. The poll looks problematic for Franken, not only because Coleman leads him 53 to 38 percent, but also because pollsters say 20 percent of Minnesota Democrats plan to vote for Republican Norm Coleman.” Source: MPR, July 24, 2008 Click here [...]

DFL Senate candidate Priscilla Lord Faris has sent a letter to Al Franken requesting that he reconsider his decision to not debate. Please read the complete letter after the page jump. Dear Al, I am disappointed that your spokesperson has announced that you [...]

According to a new poll released today by Quinnipiac University and the Washington Post, Senator Coleman is leading Al Franken, 53% - 38%.  The poll was conducted July 14 - 22. Coleman has a 23-point lead with men and a 23-point lead with independents. Coleman has a seven-point lead with women. The same poll showed Senator [...]

Al Franken has made it clear that not only won’t he debate Priscilla Lord Faris, but he intends to ignore her candidacy. Under most circumstances, that would appear to be a credible strategy. Yet these are not most circumstances.  For Franken, his political career is one storyline away from total collapse as his campaign continues to [...]

This new ad from Minnesotans for Employee Freedom is appearing in newspaper across Minnesota today. I’ll have more on this issue later today, including information about the DFL’s efforts to keep Minnesotans from seeing ads like the one pictured above.

Saint Paul – The Coleman for Senate campaign today released its fifth television ad of the campaign. The following is a statement from Cullen Sheehan, campaign manager, regarding the ad, “Why Not?” “Al Franken’s 30 year history of jokes about drugging and raping women, pornographic writings, failure to pay taxes in at least 18 states in [...]

Jack Uldrich, Independence Party candidate for the U.S. Senate, responded to my e-mail about the upcoming Farm Fest debate. Uldrich wrote that while former U.S. Senator Dean Barkley and Stephen Williams (Independence Party endorsed) will be participating, he was excluded from the debate. I am still waiting for a response from Team Franken. Please check back to [...]

Former U.S. Senator Dean Barkley responded to my e-mail about the upcoming Farm Fest debate: “I have been invited and will attend.  I have no problem with multiple candidates.” I am still waiting for a response from Team Franken and Jack Uldrich’s campaign. It may turn out that only Team Franken has a problem with Lord Faris [...]

U.S. Senator Norm Coleman’s campaign manager Cullen Sheehan provided me with a statement about Lord Faris’ participation in the upcoming Farm Fest debate: “We intend to accept debate formats that we believe will add to the discussion of issues, and show the clear differences between all of the candidates for the United States Senate.  In that [...]

Last week it was reported that Al Franken and U.S. Senator Norm Coleman would be appearing together at a candidates’ forum next month at Farm Fest. The Star Tribune also reported that Franken refuses to debate Priscilla Lord Faris.  I know that Franken hasn’t lived in Minnesota for most of the past 30 years, but [...]

I’ve rarely witnessed the intensity of opinions surrounding this post about Al Franken’s gratuitous use of one of the most vulgar words you could use.  I must admit, I have also rarely witnessed the defenders of Al Franken make such over-the-top efforts to give Franken slack for what I believe is an absolute indefensible position. A [...]

St. Paul – Senator David Senjem (Rochester) and Representative Marty Seifert (Marshall) today outlined Franken Democrats who have benefitted from Franken’s largesse and those who have embraced Franken as the leader of their party. “These Franken Democrats have sent the message that they think writings that [...]

Yesterday, after reading a posting on the new blog, Facts Are Stubborn Things, I learned about Al Franken’s use of the “n” word. Now, I’m not writing the racially disgusting word on my blog, but we all know what word I am talking about. This is from page 157 of the paperback of “Lies And the [...]

Who:  Senator Dave Senjem and Representative Marty Seifert What: Senator Dave Senjem and Representative Marty Seifert to challenge Franken Democrats to distance themselves from Franken’s 30 year history of attacks. When: 2:00 PM TODAY Where: Room 181, State Office Building

“DFL U.S. Senate candidate Priscilla Lord Faris, who entered the primary race last week, challenged DFL-endorsed candidate Al Franken on Monday to a series of three debates next month. Franken campaign spokesman Andy Barr said they will decline her invitation, thank you very much. ‘Having debated 17 times en route to winning the DFL endorsement, and [...]

In an e-mail sent out late yesterday, Coleman’s campaign manager Cullen Sheehan noted that Franken’s campaign aired the first negative TV ad of the 2008 general election campaign. “It’s official. Al Franken has launched the first television attack ad of 2008 and is going negative in a big way against Senator Coleman.” Source: Coleman for U.S. Senate [...]

St. Paul - As Al Franken seeks to revive his faltering campaign with a new round of attacks on Senator Norm Coleman this week, the Coleman for Senate campaign today issued the following statement highlighting Franken’s attacks and providing Minnesotans an accurate review of the record of Norm Coleman and Al Franken when it comes [...]

In a new story about the U.S. Senate race, Minnesota Public Radio mentions that Team Franken’s advertising may become “more aggressive“: “Franken’s new ad could be a sign of a more aggressive campaign to come. He’s hired Sen. John Edward’s former presidential campaign spokesman along with two well known media consultants.” Source: MPR, July 21, 2008 Click [...]

Trailing in the polls by double-digits, Team Franken’s new campaign ads have taken a nasty tone in the last few days.  Sadly, as we enter the final months of the election, Minnesotans should expect the advertising and campaign rhetoric from Team Franken and their allies to get even nastier. Why? Because Team Franken’s has hired Saul Shorr [...]

Saint Paul - The following statement was released today by the Coleman for Senate Campaign on Al Franken’s new attack ads on Norm Coleman: “Al Franken’s so quick to call everyone who disagrees with his liberal positions a liar, that he’s forgotten what the truth actually looks like.  Where the truth doesn’t support his claims, Al [...]