Once Obama has the nomination tied up, the focus can change. Franken will do fine. Coleman is on John Kerry's target list. He's toast.

We just need to get the presidential nomination taken care of and we can start focusing on Congressional races.

Hillary needs to take a hike.

what is the margin of error for that poll. It's usually 3% or more.
Which means the 2% difference is not significant.
They are tied.

Norm Coleman sucks W's balls for breakfast.

Since Mr. Hastert got beat soundly in Illinois, does anyone seriously believe that Mr. Coleman is in a better position than Mr. Hastert's stand in was? I've been saying this since the 2006 election results.....Democrats will go to the polls in record numbers and a significant number of Bush fractured Republicans will stay home in 2008. And since Mr. McCain is now their default presidential candidate, it's a slam dunk on the presidential election no matter what the polls say now. Just as many Republicans loathe Mr. McCain as Democrats, and their ingrained/extreme social and religious biases makess it nearly impossible for many of them to find a "reason" to vote for someone who is moderating/changing his policy views to trick them into voting for him. As the presidential election goes, so goes the nation. Mr. Franken will sail past Mr. Coleman much like Mr. Foster blew by Mr. Hastert on the winds of America's discontent with all things Republican. I think Mr. Franken will do very well in the Senate because he is very intelligent and fair minded human being. And I must say, I really hope he doesn't hesitate to brighten and inform the Senate with his gift for making people laugh and think at the same time.

The only way Dems have a chance to get 60 votes in the Senate is to have Obama at the top of the ticket. This race is the perfect example. Clinton has shown no capacity to take purple states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Colorado.

Has anyone else heard the rumors (I cannot yet call them anything else) of "Stepford" Laurie Coleman showing up at ERs with unexplained facial contusions?

We all know the man is a serious skirt-hound. All we really need is some photos. Anyone?

Hooray! They're tied! Gotta love margins of error.

I'm sure I just saw another "legitimate" poll that had Coleman ahead by 10 points. These polls mean very little. The most reliable poll is Zogby. Whatever Zogby says, the opposite is always true.

>Why Franken? Is the MN DFL so weak it has no internal candidates?

The MN DFL is truly a disaster. They tend to promote loyal soldiers, people who work within the party apparatus, and people related to great Minnesota politicians of the past. There is some very good young blood in the party, though. I think Franken's celebrity made it a bit intimidating for anyone thinking about a run. Someone did challenge him, but word is it was a half-hearted effort.

I think with a strong candidate Coleman is VERY beatable, especially this year. I'm unsure how Minnesotans will react to Franken, though. (The ironic thing is Coleman is less of a Minnesotan than Franken...)

I do think Franken can win, let me add. He is very smart. And while some might perceive him as smarmy--well, he's running against Norm Coleman, for god's sakes.

Quick Minnesota history lesson.
Al Franken grew up in St. Louis Park, MN, and went to NY to become a star on Sat. Night Live and an author. He moved back a about 3 years ago, I think. He has always been a progressive with strong Minnesota roots.
Norm Coleman grew up in New York and was a Democrat. He became mayor of St. Paul and changed parties. He brokered the building of the Excel Energy Center arena. When the GOP comes to town for their convention, watch him take lots of bows. What is the definition of carpetbagger????