TVSquad

You pose the question "Do people still think of him as just Al Franken from Saturday Night Live?" But in this context, the real question should be "Do Minnesotans still think of him as just Al Franken from Saturday Night Live?" since they're the only ones who will have the opportunity to vote for him.

I'd say no at this point. He's had several best-selling books, he's got a nationally broadcast three-hour politically themed radio show (which despite the low ratings has a high awareness factor) and has made numerous appearances on TV news and opinion shows. His feuds with Bill O'Reilly, and in particular Fox News' claim that Franken ripped off their slogan for the title of one of his books was literally laughed out of court by the judge have only brought him more attention. Plus he hasn't been on SNL for what, 15 years now? Outside of his late sitcom "Lateline," and the ocassional USO tour and corporate gigs, he hasn't in all that time, certainly long enough for people to accept his new persona as his primary persona.

There is no comparison to Jesse Ventura in this context. Ventura was far from a stupid man, and his candidacy was a stunt that worked. But the Minnesotans I've spoken with, even those who voted for Ventura, felt let down, and I imagine the bar will be raised very high for any candidate without a strong political background.

Anyone who's listened to Franken's radio show or read his books knows he's truly dedicated to politics and is a political scholar in every sense of the phrase. Franken's challenge will be in convincing the voters of Minnesota that he is a serious candidate, and given his recent history I don't think that will be a difficult task. A good candidate needs to know his stuff and how to communicateit. Franken has been talking politics for three hours a day for over two years now and he certainly knows how to connect with an audience, so I think he'd be an exceptionally viable candidate.

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Anyone who listens to his shows and read his books is a certifiable left wing nut. So of course a left wing nut would think Al Franken is viable.

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i'm a conservative, and i pray he runs for the senate in Minn. Just as i hope Hillary runs for the prez in 08..In the old days (pre-internet) the Liberal media or the MSM may have been put a beard on these two and they might have slipped by..but today it would be impossible...Hillary and or Franken will get crushed in the general election, but they might be able to raise a lot of money to funnel into their private accounts, whick i presume is Franken's purpose. Rememeber you get to keep the money you raise and don't spend! ask John Kerry

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Was he ever funny on SNL? I always found him to be very annoying, even before I found out he was a stark-raving-mad-liberal(tm)! :)

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He's hardly stark-raving-mad int he Ann Coulter sense of the term. However, even though I respect him and his political commentary a great deal, I think a senate run is a poor idea. I generally believe in a separation of pundit-and-state, the ideological sacrifices required to actually get things done in Washington run counter to the uncompromising rhetoric that punditry demands. I think Franken can do much more for the Democratic party by continuing his role as flag carrier (and the Democrats sure need them, they're woe-fully undermanned in the blowhard department).

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I support him in trying to run for senate solely because I know he would be dominated by any other competitor.

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