Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Location Location
Posts: 26385

WASHINGTON - Just one day after U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton decided not to run for a second term, comedian Al Franken may be throwing his hat into the ring.



Last year, Franken said he wanted to run for the Senate in 2008. But last night he told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that he is now considering his candidacy for next year.

Franken, a Minnesota native, plans to make an announcement live on his national radio show in Washington D.C. this morning. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS will be in the studio with Franken for that announcement.

Meanwhile, former U.S. Sen Rod Grams, who lost his seat to Dayton in 2000, told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that he is running for the open seat. He said Social Security, the deficit, the budget, Medicare and Medicaid are what prompted him to enter the race.

Other Republicans who may consider a run include U.S. Reps. Mark Kennedy and Gil Gutknecht, and Minn. Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer.

On the DFL side, activist Buck Humphrey said he's not ruling out a bid for the U.S. Senate.

The grandson of the late Vice President Hubert Humphrey and the son of former state Attorney General Skip Humphrey first said he wasn't interested in joining a growing list of candidates seeking the party nomination. But Buck Humphrey said later that he wouldn't rule out running for the open Senate seat.

Other potential DFL candidates include Minneapolis lawyer Mike Ciresi, Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson of Willmar, state Senator Steve Kelley of Hopkins, former Congressman Bill Luther, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, and former public development official Rebecca Yanisch.

State House Minority Leader Matt Entenza was considered to be a potential Senate candidate by many. However, he said Wednesday that he's not interested. During a visit to Worthington, Entenza said his interests are entirely in Minnesota.

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Still Orygun
Posts: 10255

I don't know which is worse, that liberal-wacko radio will lose one of its most prolific ranters or that the Humphreys, traumatized as a clan by the name "Hubert", have resorted to "Skip" and "Buck".

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 7504

Well, we ARE talking about a state that elected a modestly successful professional wrestler as governor and then discovered that he wasn't meaningfully worse at the job than most of the previous officeholders.

It's not at all out of the question that Franken could win, and I'd wager he'd do no more damage to the republic than, say, Wellstone.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: 0.50
Posts: 9355

i think all politicians should be amateurs.
term limits for all!

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 24315

I would argue that empirical evidence would suggest that they already all are, sans the term limits thing of course.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Location Location
Posts: 26385

quote:

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WASHINGTON - After speculation that Al Franken would run for the Senate seat Mark Dayton is leaving open, the comedian says he is not going to be a candidate.

The announcement was made just before 2 p.m. in Washington D.C. during Franken's national radio program Air America.

Franken had said last year that he wanted to run for the Senate seat held by Norm Coleman in 2008. However, after Dayton said he would not seek a second term, he told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that he was considering his candidacy for next year.

Franken, a Minnesota native, added that he plans to honor his two-year commitment to Air America. And while he is keeping his options open for a 2008 campaign, he said he would move back to Minnesota before making any announcement on his candidacy.

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Damn. I wanted a sideshow.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: In a Blue, Blue State
Posts: 12584

He should have Supply-Side Jesus run in his place.

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Still Orygun
Posts: 10255

I wanted an end to the day-old ranting.

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