NYT/AP: 'Big Comedy' Gives Franken a Boost
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 19, 2007
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Al Franken, who hopes to challenge Minnesota Republican Sen. Norm Coleman next year, delivered a stern message to friend Tom Hanks at a fundraiser in Los Angeles last month.
Franken told the assembled group that while Coleman takes money from ''Big Tobacco'' and ''Big Oil,'' he'll be raising money from ''Big Comedy'' -- and that he wouldn't be writing any congressional earmarks for Hanks.
Hanks then walked out of the room and slammed the door, Franken recalled in an interview Wednesday. Returning to applause, the actor pointed to Franken and the two said in unison, ''Big Comedy.''
For Franken, Big Comedy has translated into big bucks.
The Los Angeles fundraiser, held at the home of ''Seinfeld'' co-creator Larry David and his wife Laurie, brought in about $200,000, and another fundraiser in San Francisco yielded about $90,000, Franken said. That helped him pull in $1.35 million in the first quarter of the year, despite not raising any money until he announced his candidacy Feb. 14. Coleman raised $1.53 million during the quarter....
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He doesn't have a clear path to the Democratic nomination. On Wednesday, wealthy trial lawyer Mike Ciresi, best known for securing a multibillion-dollar settlement against the tobacco industry on behalf of the Minnesota government, formally announced his campaign....
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Senate-Franken.html
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