CQ Downgrades Al Franken's Chances At Senate

Just a few months ago, Al Franken had plenty of reasons to smile about his chances of unseating Minnesota's Republican Sen. Norm Coleman .

Minnesotans oppose the war -- and the president -- that Coleman supported. Franken was doing his homework: he had entered the race early and was running a strong grass-roots campaign focused on local organizing and smaller-venue events.

And, in early June, he secured the DFL nomination at the state convention on the first ballot.

But costly mistakes in the campaign of former Saturday Night Live writer are now imperiling his chances of winning.

Poll trends in the past several weeks indicate that Coleman has increased his lead over Franken. Although the numbers have fluctuated, four of the last five polls show Coleman ahead of Franken - three by more than 10 points. So now, CQ Politics is changing the rating on the race to Leans Republican from No Clear Favorite.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[JoDeeVa]

C'mon, HuffPost..get on this! Arianna, I know you were still courting Republicans during your "Strange Bedfellows"..with Al Franken coverage of the 1996 election~BUT~now, we need you to jump back into that bed with Al, this time as the supporter you are! Can we please get some high-profile positive media focus on Al Franken in that Minnesota race? How about getting someone "Off the Bus" to do a face-to-face linkup/ interview with Al for some insight? Norm Coleman must be banished to the nether regions of Minnesota never to be heard from again. If Minnesotans can elect Jesse Ventura and Paul Wellstone, they certainly would be the ones to elect Al Franken over Norm Coleman...let's help them make up their minds to do so!!

[UnbiasView]

Living in Minnesota I can tell you one thing, not many like Norm Coleman but nobody likes Al Franken and I don't think he has a sniff. I won't voting anyone into office that avoids paying income taxes in 17 states and avoids worker's comp taxes in another.

[OhComeOnNow]

CQ? Why would we want to validate anything they say about Dems?

I believe the local polls, not politcally biased organizations.

[politicky]

Why is the mainstream media suddenly so attentive to what Coleman is up to? Especially the stuff that is nonpartisan?

[ohiomark]

Well, Franken has failed at everything else he's tried. Why ruin his track record?

[wm1066]

Ya, writing gags for SNL during its heyday was a real failure for him!

[UnbiasView]

He was not funny on SNL

[ofbbg]

Praise Jesus!! One less left-wing Liberal in the Senate!!

[chronic]

Are you mentally ill? Ooops my bad, you are a repiglette!

[fourex]

Al Franken cannot challenge Coleman on the Iraq War as Al was also a supporter. He later changed his position to 'the war was run poorly', hardly progressive.

[wm1066]

Al Franken has some good ads on TV challenging Coleman on Iraq, very well done.
Meanwhile Coleman has an ad about hockey! And another confusing ad with a ganster thug.
( it looks like a independant ad for Coleman)
Al Franken is beating Coleman on the TV ad war front.

[NewsCorpse]

This news is a wake up call. Franken needs to get his campaign in gear, be more visible, and take a page (or ten) from Wellstone's book. Be funny, personable and everywhere.

News Corpse: http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/

[Missmn]

It's too early to call this race either way. Minnesotans make up their minds in the last 10 days before the election - sometimes even closer than that. Until then, either candidate can be polling 15 points ahead and still come out a loser on election day.

As for the tax stuff, almost no one is talking about that locally. You still hear some references to the porn-o-rama piece, but not so much. One of the problems with this early polling is that the Republican convention is in St. Paul in September. Considering that will give Coleman a bump, or should, Al really can't do a whole lot until then.

[wm1066]

I saw one Coleman bumper sticker a month ago but I see Franken stickers and yard signs everyday.
CQ is only polling known Republicans to get those figures.
Lets not be fooled again!

[meanguy]

uh huh...and i'm guessing since the majority of stickers and yard signs during the republican primaries said 'ron paul', he must have won the nomination...

[lovethesinner]

Congressional Quarterly is an organ of the Republican POLITBURO.

Al Franken is doing fine. His new ad is going to bury Norm Colman:

http://www.alfranken.com/content/video_detail/?id=52

GoOyeOyeOye!

[ChristianEcon.com]

People really don't know how to do political ads, do they.

[kjdwyer]

Let me start by saying that I love Al Franken. I have thoroughly enjoyed his work as a comic writer, actor and political commentator/writer/activist. I'm also in complete agreement with his political point of view.

I am troubled, however, by his journey to a high political seat; just as I have had problems with George Murphy, Ronald Reagan, Fred Grandy, Fred Thompson, Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenagger, among others. Of course, Franken has nothing to do with the ideology of anyone on this list; it's just that he comes from the same background of entertainment.

I don't doubt Al Franken's acumen or ability to perform the duties of the office, or at the very least, be an improvement on Norm Coleman. What bothers me is the transition from entertainment to politics; the continued blurring of the line between the two.

Is it too much to ask for a candidate who has spent his life in public service? Someone who's dedicated his studies to government and has a resume replete with experience in other political capacities?

Doesn't his candidacy cede to a trend that will become increasingly difficult to buck should he be successful? Yes, in a way, why shouldn't a democrat from entertainment (especially one like Franken who's proven his grasp of the issues) enjoy the same success as the sorry republican list I mentioned above, but to where does this ultimately lead? Is it unfair to paint him with the same brush?

Just asking the question.

[EgbertSouse]

What happened to the original notion of citizen politics?

Professional politicians will never have a truly open mind as they are inevitably concerned with the next election. Often times their decisions are at odds with the best interest of the people.

In my opinion we need more representation from other professions, not less.

...of the people, by the people, for the people.

[Doofus]

'Is it too much to ask for a candidate who has spent his life in public service? Someone who's dedicated his studies to government and has a resume replete with experience in other political capacities?'

I take it you're thinking of Jesse Ventura.

[nellie]

I have to agree with you. I prefer a candidate who has paid some dues in terms of public service. I think it's presumptuous to run for office based on entertainment fame. But people have done it. And succeeded. I'm speaking as a Californian with a governor the whole world recognizes.

But more than that, I used to listen to Franken on Air America. And I always thought he needed more of a connection to people and their lives. Maybe this is what drives people to public service—or what they learn from the experience. I'm not really surprised he's struggling a little.

That said, it is early. I hope he gets some momentum. Regardless of his experience, he'll be a better senator for MN—and the country—than Coleman.

[HollywoodBill]

Great points. Franken should follow the example of Sonny Bono who did great as a US House Representative. After losing a run for the US Senate. He's not Senate material.

[meanguy]

perhaps dogcatcher?

[engineer68]

I want to know how Franken is doing in the 6th district of Minnesota.

[SeanGardner]

I read something about this on HUFFINGTON this weekend. How the race is close, with Franken still needing to go just an extra mile of sorts with voters.

I still hold out hope he will do it. We need him in the Senate.

But just as pundits continue to overlook the high youth vote, the high black vote, the high latino vote, and the high number of veterans who will be voting for Obama, we might also be underestimating Franken's efforts at outreach.

After the Democratic Convention, I believe Franken will be humming. It may not be a landslide victory, but I believe he will win. Coleman has been a disaster.

[TheRebel82]

Franken is gonna win! No doubt about that!

[meanguy]

oh, yeah...if it keeps him off the flipping airwaves as 'human sominex', i'm all for it...face it, the guy is BOOOOOOORRRRRRRRINGGGGGG.....

[chronic]

Yeh and Coleman is a big baaaaaag of excitement????