(Al) Franken's Rival Drops Out of (Minnesota) Senate Race

[Ian David]

Source: ABC News

Franken's Rival Drops Out of Senate Race
With Main Competitor Out, Al Franken Expected to Face Coleman for Minnesota Seat
By MATTHEW JAFFE

Comedian and author Al Franken is one step closer to realizing his goal of becoming the next U.S. senator from the state of Minnesota.

Mike Ciresi, Franken's chief competitor for the nomination of the Democratic Farmer Labor party (DFL), announced Monday that he is withdrawing from the race, paving the way for Franken to do battle with incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman this fall.

"I am announcing today my withdrawal from the contest for the DFL endorsement and the conclusion of my candidacy for the U.S. Senate," Ciresi said. "In my judgment, continuing the endorsement race would only lead to an unnecessary floor fight. It is time to step aside."

Ciresi, a wealthy trial lawyer known for winning a large 1998 settlement against the tobacco industry, entered the race last spring, but was never able to match Franken's fundraising successes. The former "Saturday Night Live" comedian, radio talk show host, and author not only won the fundraising battle, but also earned the coveted support of major labor unions.


U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken laughs with a supporter at a picnic in Edina, Minn., July 21, 2007. (Ann Heisenfelt/AP Photo)

More:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=4424646


Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=4424646

[bunkerbuster1]

1. See, Mrs. Clinton, that's how it's done.

[aquart]

2. Now if only Senator Obama could learn how.

[skooooo]

4. Been listening to Rush L. a lot lately, huh?

[Political Heretic]

17. Typically, the leader doesn't conceed.

:shrug:

[PBS Poll-435]

35. When Sen. Obama can win the hearts and minds of people

in New York, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Ohio, New Jersey, New Mexico, well maybe...he can run for dog catcher!

[nolabels]

36. It's just delegates, do the math

:shrug:

[PBS Poll-435]

37. Well, OK

We can play math. Sen. Clinton has no chance of winning. I get that. And I also understand that he has no chance in NJ, MA, PA, OH, etc. Why do you want McCain elected?

[nolabels]

38. No, but i think Hillary does

Maybe it would work better if she offered John the VP spot :shrug:

[pokercat999]

50. Play your math. What was the difference in those states?

When they vote in the GE MOST Hillary supporters will switch to Obama not McCain, except of course those Rethugs that crossed-over to try to throw the primary to Hillary. There's no question in my mind that no matter who is the nominee it is going to be a close GE. Too close and it will be stolen just like the last two elections. Our only chance at this time is Obama, or a brokered Al Gore with Obama as VP.

[crimsonblue]

48. if you think californians will vote for McSame over Obama...

then you are batshit crazy. Obama will win all of the traditional blue states, and he will throw a lot more red states in the mix, making states like Florida and Ohio less important, which is good because those states tend to fuck up the election process.

[FightTheRight89]

52. This whole "She's won the big states!" argument befuddles me.

Are the people in the other states less important?

Also, an argument based on cutting ONE nation into arbitrary groups and saying that if you manage to barely squeak out a victory in most of them you should be considered the victor...

THAT is an absolutely retarded talking point.

[cui bono]

25. I would bet he knows how, thing is he's the one that's ahead. n/t

[Honeycombe8]

31. Obama is the frontrunner and far ahead in delegates. It's the backrunner who drops out. nt

[Exultant Democracy]

39. your post is flat out over the moon crazy, Obama is in the lead are you nuts?

[Terran]

46. LOL

That's funny. Good one.

[buff2]

3. That's what Barack should do

So we can win in November.

[Acadia Blue]

5. The media has caused this problem....Thier personal attacks on

Hillary and favoring Obama. If they eleminate her, they will then shred him.

[Hawkeye-X]

6. Uh, no. It's the other way around.

Sorry Clintonites, this guy was very classy and so far Clinton hasn't been classy since Iowa.

[Nexus7]

11. Sheer genius

Wow. It must've taxed your creative visionary abilities to come up with that one!

[bunkerbuster1]

42. If I could self-delete this post I would.

(The time's expired for editing.) I can see it only served to pour gas on a fire here; really wasn't my intent.

I do wish Hillary would step aside, but it wasn't right to hijack a thread about Al in order to express it. My apologies to DU.

[onehandle]

7. Senator Franken.

I. Can't. Wait.

[pokercat999]

51. It will be fantastic to see him on the Senate floor. nt

[dflprincess]

8. There is another DFLer still in the race,

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer who is far more progressive than Franken. To date, Jack has been running 2nd in this race which begs the quesion of why the above article would refer to Ciresi as Franken's "chief competitor". And, Nelson-Pallmeyer has done this without the budgets Franken and Ciresi have.

[truthisfreedom]

12. 2nd in this race? Against Franken, maybe. Franken is at a statistical dead heat with Coleman.

Just got the news letter.

[dflprincess]

19. Yes, second to Franken

I was referring to the race for the DFL endorsement. The interesting thing is that Nelson-Pallmeyer did much better than Ciresi in the district conventions that have been held - without nearly the money. The media has been spinning this as a contest between Franken and Ciresi, Jack hasn't even been included in the polls that have been taken. Go figure.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

26. Ciresi never caught on, even though the media rarely mentioned Nelson-Pallmeyer

I think it's because Jack has a lot of cred in the various progressive movements around the state. I first heard of him nearly 25 years ago when he was active in the movement against Reagan's military buildup and wars in Central America.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

27. Nelson-Pallmeyer was well represented at my caucus ...

... in little ol' Eagan, the suburban GOP stomping grounds of Timmy "the Tool" Pawlenty. Lots of Nelson=Pallmeyer supporters among the throngs of people there (and, man, do I mean throngs!). He does have a lot of credibility among progressives in the state - from what I have read, he deserves it.

[truthisfreedom]

13. dupe, sorry

Man, I did it again!

[Ian David]

40. In what ways is he more progressive than Franken? I'm not familiar with him. n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

44. See for yourself

http://www.jackforsenate.org/index.htm

[truthisfreedom]

9. Really, that's enough, people. I'm going to vote for the Democratic ticket this fall.

Whoever is on it. Let's cut out the back-and-forth on O and C. Vote for the candidate of your choice, as often as possible. Then vote for the winner, and we're obviously all going to win this fall!

[bunkerbuster1]

22. I will too.

If it's Hillary, I'll gladly vote for her. I just don't think she has a chance in hell of winning, is all, and it'd be best for all if she just acknowledged as much.

Seriously, what I posted in this thread is the "harshest" thing I've posted to DU about her. I like her. But I think her time's up. But I've been wrong before, so who knows.

[murielm99]

33. Amen!

I only clicked on this thread because it was about Franken's Senate race. I had hoped the Obama vs. Clinton stuff was not in it.

Please cut it out, everyone.

[truthisfreedom]

10. dupe, sorry

I have a new MacBook Air, and the click button is so horsesh*t that I have to use the "tap-to-click" option on the mouse pad, and it sends off double clicks really easy. SO that's my excuse.

[syberlion]

14. Good Luck to Al

and to all those coming in and poo-pooing on this when it has nothing to do with the above news, please take that ill-mannered behavior somewhere else. Me, I am excited about Al being a Senator.

To the others too blind in love with their particular "choices," grow up and be happy for someone for a change. :rant:

[electron_blue]

15. Now it's Franken and Nelson-Pallmeyer. Dont' forget him. (link)

Franken obviously has the big name, but N-P is better qualified.

Check him out
http://www.jackforsenate.org/

[diane in sf]

16. Congrats Al!

[Puckster]

18. Go, Al!!!!

Are you paying attention, Hillary? (And before anybody jumps on me, I did vote for her on Super Tuesday.)

[edbermac]

20. Can't wait for Bill-O to start calling him Senator Stuart Smalley.

Sweet!

[Highway61]

21. Damn

That's GREAT news....Go AL!

[UTUSN]

23. Big K&R #5 (but somebody beat me to it) n/t

[Olney Blue]

24. We need Al Franken in Congress!!!!!!!

[DeepModem Mom]

28. K&R

[dysfunctional press]

29. Al Franken will make c-span worth watching, for him alone.

i just wish the country was ready to go as far left as i'd like.

i think Al is.

[Auggie]

30. Congratulations Al! Damn, integrity could be getting contagious.

[CatholicEdHead]

32. I do respect Ciresi throwing his hat in

That is part of the process. It is hard to get name recognition and not have to raise alot of money nowadays. That part of the system sucks.

I hope to see Ciresi in future DFL races.

[SeattleGirl]

34. Go Al!!!!!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Omaha Steve]

41. Franken had already got most of Labors endorsements!

K&R!

[alphafemale]

43. I really like Al Franken. I used to think he was annoying when all I knew of him was SNL skits

Then I read his books and I started listening to him on the radio and saw some interviews. And I learned how intelligent and quick of wit he is and also how big of a heart he has.

[ReformedChris]

45. Paul Wellstone's legendary seat will hopefully be back in liberal hands

Senator Franken will be entertaining and will be a great show. Coleman only emerged victorious because of the furor over the Wellstone Memorial and the RePuke "outrage" at it.

[dflprincess]

47. Nelson-Pallmeyer's positions are closer to Wellstone's than Franken's are.

Though I will not have a problem voting for Franken if he gets the endorsement.

[progressoid]

49. Yea AL!