While this is currently a very close race and some polls released within the past week only have Coleman with a 2% lead, there is the possibility that because of some slips by Franken he could also see his close polling slip as well. It has been unveiled over the past several months that Franken owes over $70,000 in back taxes in 17 states, and it was also revealed that Franken’s personal corporation failed to pay workers' compensation insurance for nearly three years. These occurrences, along with Franken’s career as a comedian in which he used inappropriate humor and foul language, could cause his bid for the senate to fall short. This election is seeing the same attack ads that are characteristic in many elections; the Republicans are not attacking the issues of their challenger but rather their character and the Democrats are attacking the issues and links to the Bush administration. Despite Franken’s short comings, Coleman also has a few problem areas as well.
Norm Coleman has had an interesting political career. He grew up in a large Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, attended college on Long Island at Hofstra University, then went on to law school at the University of Iowa. He then spent 17 years in Minnesota working for the Attorney General’s Office. In 1993 he first got his foot into the political spectrum, but not as a Republican. Coleman ran as Democrat and was elected as mayor of St. Paul.
In 1996, Coleman made a major change. Coleman was frustrated with the Democratic Party and felt like they had assumed the role of defenders of the status quo. Coleman switched to the Republican Party because he felt it held the best opportunity to bring about better public safety, quality education and job growth. In 1997, he was reelected mayor as a Republican, with 59 percent of the vote.
In 1998, he ran for governor and lost to Independent candidate and former professional wrestler, Jesse Ventura. In 2002 he entered the race for the U.S. Senate against Democratic incumbent Senator Paul Wellstone, who tragically perished in a plane crash eleven days before the election. Former Vice President Walter Mondale replaced him on the ticket, and despite having less then two weeks to campaign only lost to Coleman by two percent.
Now, Minnesota has a chance to vote another entertainer to one of its state offices and give Coleman his second loss to a celebrity as Al Franken has been running a very aggressive race and keeping things close. Franken has been attacking Coleman constantly on his ties to President Bush and Big Oil. Franken’s campaign is also harping on Coleman’s close ties with Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, who was recently indicted on charges of fraud.
Al Franken is singing the same tune as so many of his Democratic counterparts are, “change.” On the opening intro to his official website is a banner that says, “Join a Movement for Change.” Franken’s stances are right in line with the left as he opposes the war in Iraq and wants to bring our troops home, he is in favor of alternative fuels and increased spending for research, and he wants to move towards some type of universal health care. Franken has won the support of several key military officers and republicans for his unwavering support for our deployed soldiers and his many trips overseas with the USO.
This race has the potential to go in several directions and it will be interesting to see how Minnesota votes this fall. Despite Franken’s problems with his taxes and his crude humor and despite Coleman’s links to Stevens, Bush, and Big Oil, it is worth the time to visit their web sites and check out their stances on some key issues. This is the best way to determine where your vote should be cast come November. Franken- http://www.alfranken.com/ Coleman- http://coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Home.Welcome
by Eli Lovell
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