The reason why Al Franken will lose is two-fold: 1) He will be hit hard because of his connection to Hollywood, to which Minnesota is known for being the antithesis of; and 2) Norm has a larger financial network to rely on, whereas Al doesn’t.

56-43-1 is what I’m seeing.

If Franken had gone to say, New Hampshire to challenge Sununu, then he’d be a carpetbagger. But not here.

Also, Andrew, I noticed you left 2006 off your little list: Franken was already here helping Amy Klobuchar. But let us not let stubborn facts get in the way of hammering someone you don’t like…

I agree, actually, that it is a silly argument to make. We should elect best public servant that we can. I don’t care if they learn about Minnesota issues by a year of total immersion or are lifelong Minnesotans. The important thing is that they thoroughly understand what is important to Minnesotans and can articulate that in Washington.

I’m estimating that Norm has lived in Minnesota for more years than Franken. It is 30 years for Coleman (moved here in 1977 to begin his career) vs. 19 years for Franken (1951 - 1969, and then I’ll give him 1 year here in 2006 - 2007.)

When you figure that Coleman has spent 30 years here contributing to the betterment of our state, while Franken spent 19 years here, mainly growing up, there is no question who has been a bigger part of the Minnesota community.

Coleman worked for many years as a prosector and assistant attorney general in Minnesota. I suffered through 8 years of Norm Coleman as my mayor in St. Paul, and he has been a senator for the last five. He’s got his Minnesota bonafides down.

Franken, on the other hand, moved away from Minnesota at the first chance he got, and returned 30 years later just to run for Senate.
Voters may or may not see that as a problem, you aren’t going to overcome the carpetbagger argument by pointing to Coleman.

So you want an independent voice, huh??? I can guarantee you this, Coleman votes with the President a hell of a lot less than Walz votes with Nancy Pelosi (over 93% of the time). How is Walz an independent voice when he votes with Pelosi 93% of the time?

Before you go looking all high and mighty with your great research, maybe you should fact check and see that the Rammer is from Jamestown, NORTH DAKOTA! Which might as well make someone feel like a Minnesotan, who wants to live in Jamestown, ND…

“Coleman, after all, is a New Yorker who found Minnesota to be fertile ground for his political ambitions.”

Give me a break, yeah, it was totally planned that he would come here to run as a Democrat, then decide that the party was not for him and leave it to run as a Republican, leaving him to challenge a US Senator he once supported. Yeah that was all part of plan for his political ambitions. Norm is tremendous leader who does not seek things out, situations find the leader in him and bring it out.

That line is completely off base and liberal drivel. I don’t care how much you say the Forum board leans conservative!

Looks to me that the Republicans don’t want to get into a who’s a ‘real Minnesota’ argument. Just drop this discussion. A lot of our collective political giants in Minnesota, going back to the first governor, were from some other state.

Its a stupid argument and its no wonder the Republicans think it will resonate.

The Iraq War, as in 2006, will plague the GOP in 2008. Norm’s constant refusal to hear and consider the opposition of Minnesotans on this issue, reflects in his voting. Plus, this puts him in the Hot Seat.

The man spent 17 years working for the Minnesota Dept. of Justice, researching and prosecuting cases all over the state. The he served 2 consecutive terms as the Mayor of St. Paul (where he established a good record).

I’m not saying that we should all vote for Norm because just because of his service to the state. However, I think you can argue that someone who made his professional career here by being a civil/public servant for 25 years (he could have made a pile more money in a private NYC practice) has paid whatever “dues” you need to in order to be considered one of us.

New residency requirements?
How long before one is not a “carpetbagger?”

Normy doesn’t live in the state full time!?
His wife spends a lot of time in California.

I think Al best has Minnesota roots & FEELS like a Garrison Keillor personality.

(With the exception of Brodkorb trolling here when he’s got his own forum. IS IT LONELY OVER THERE?)

Thanks for filling in the blanks regarding my post. I appreciate it. That’s what happens when you try to write emails and post comments on a web site at the same time.

You’re absolutely right. Al Franken had no intention of living in Minnesota until he decided to run for office just as Hillary Clinton never planned on living in New York until she ran for Senate.

As for the comments about Almanac, Franken resented being asked questions by real reporters like Escola and Wurzer. He was used to being able to say whatever he wanted, unchallenged, on his talk radio show and really didn’t like answering pointed questions. On several occasions, Escola and Wurzer interrupted Franken to say he was not answering the questions they asked him.

Forum’s editorial failed the reality test.

Oh, and Richard, it’s pretty funny how you never are able to refute the substance of what someone says. You have to smear them to refute what they say. It’s pretty sad you’re unable to come up with a logical argument.

I agree - kind of like you should know something about foreign affairs and international relations BEFORE running for President, not while doing it.

I emailed the editor and he will be issuing a correction about Franken being born in Minnesota. Franken was born in New York City.