Al Franken Wins Primary for Minnesota Senate Seat
LESLIE DOYLE
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September 10, 2008
Al Franken Wins Primary for Minnesota Senate Seat
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. PAUL (AP) — The comedian Al Franken won the Democratic nomination
for Senate in Minnesota on Tuesday, setting up a showdown with the
incumbent Republican senator, Norm Coleman.
Mr. Franken, who gained fame as a cast member of "Saturday Night
Live," easily beat six other candidates. Mr. Coleman trounced his only
opponent, an expatriate living in Italy.
Mr. Franken's celebrity has both helped and hurt him. His
coast-to-coast recognition enabled him to amass impressive financing
for a first-time candidate, but archives full of racy material
provided ammunition to Republicans and his most visible Democratic
rival, Priscilla Lord Faris, a lawyer.
Ms. Lord Faris, part of a well-regarded family in state Democratic
politics, criticized Mr. Franken for "angry and offensive public
behavior" and said he would be too easy a target for Mr. Coleman and
his allies.
With most precincts reporting, Mr. Franken had 65 percent of the vote
to 29 percent for Ms. Lord Faris.
"Norm Coleman has become Washington," Franken said. "He's the
Washington guy, and I'm going to be fighting for Minnesotans."
Mr. Coleman sought to make the race about experience in public office.
"Minnesotans have a clear choice on experience," he said. "Minnesotans
have a clear choice in terms of record of working with others."
Dean Barkley won a spot on the ballot for the Independence Party,
which is a major party in Minnesota.
In the New Hampshire Senate race, Senator John E. Sununu, a
Republican, and former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, easily won
their primaries.
In the District of Columbia, former Mayor Marion S. Barry Jr. easily
held off four challengers in the Democratic primary for City Council.
Mr. Barry is expected to win a second four-year term in November in
the overwhelmingly Democratic city.
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