Is Franken worried about endorsement?

[goodhue]

If not, why in the world is he deploying an Al Gore e-mail blast to delegates on his behalf?
Don't get me wrong, I love Al Gore. But it is curious from campaign touting Franken's inevitability.

Myself, I'll be happily voting for Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer at the convention.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: My endorsement
From: "Al Gore" <[e-mail]>
Date: Wed, June 4, 2008 4:01 pm

Dear ____,

I'm writing to urge you to endorse Al Franken at the DFL state convention in Rochester. Not just because he's my friend -- but because he'll make a fantastic Senator at a time when we could sure use a few more fantastic Senators.

This administration -- with help from followers like Norm Coleman -- has wasted eight years while our environmental crisis has worsened and opportunities to lead the world in finding solutions to global warming have passed. (Al likes to say that this administration will be to climate change what the Hoover administration was to the Great Depression -- and I agree with him.)

Al and I talk about these issues a lot -- he's one of the few people who spends as much time e-mailing as I do. He's got a lot of great ideas about how we can address the climate crisis -- and build a green economy for Minnesota at the same time. He'll be a standout Senator on environmental issues, but he'll also be a Senator who gets up early every morning and, judging by the times he e-mails me, stays up late every night fighting to create opportunities for Minnesota families.

But I'm not just supporting Al because I trust him to be right on the issues. I'm supporting him because I've gotten to know him well, and he's exactly the breath of fresh air our government needs.

Believe me, Al definitely won't be your typical Washington politician. That, my friends, is a compliment. As a Senator, Al will be passionate and principled and wonky and honest and, yes, funny -- sometimes all at once.

I can also tell you that Al won't be afraid to take on a Bush Republican like Norm Coleman. I know a little bit about how the right-wing does business. And I can't think of anybody better-equipped to take them on this election season than Al.

Al's been one of the hardest-working activists in our party for a long time. I've appreciated his support and friendship for years, and I know I'm not alone. And if we're going to use our majorities in Congress to affect real change, we're going to need Al's sharp wit and strong convictions.

Democrats across the country looked to Minnesota's Paul Wellstone to serve as a powerful voice for the progressive values that bind us together. This year, we're looking to Minnesota once again to send another powerful voice to join Amy Klobuchar in the Senate.

That's Al. And I hope you and your fellow delegates will endorse him in Rochester, just as I'm proud to do here.

Thank you for your hard work, and thanks for reading.

Sincerely,

Al Gore

[cynthia]

1. any candidate needs to use every strategy available

and not count the chickens before they are hatched. I think Al will be endorsed on Saturday, but he would be a fool to rest on his laurels and assume he has it all wrapped up. Al Franken is a hard-working and passionate champion of the people. He shows how hard he will work for the people of Minnesota by the way he conducts his campaign. I expect nothing less from him.

And I really respect Al Gore, so this email from Al Gore urging delegates to support Al Franken means a lot to me. Too bad I am not a delegate.

[goodhue]

2. followed by an e-mail from Klobuchar manager Goldfarb endorsing JNP

Very interesting . . .


Dear DFLer,

As you get ready to head to the DFL State Convention this weekend and cast your
ballot for endorsement in the U.S. Senate race, I wanted to take a minute to tell
you why I support Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. More importantly, however, I wanted to
address an important question I'm betting is on your mind: can this guy actually win
in November?

I learned a lot about running a winning statewide campaign in 2006 when I was
fortunate to serve as Amy Klobuchar's campaign manager. With your support, and
behind an exceptional candidate, we were able to make a strong case for change and
to send someone I'm proud to have worked for to Washington.

Over the last few months you've begun to get to know Jack. Like you, I've been
inspired by his hopeful vision for the future and the courage he's shown to stand up
strongly on the critical issues facing our country. And like you, I have asked
myself whether this remarkable person can actually win this fall and reclaim Paul
Wellstone's seat.

Here's why I'm confident he can win:

1. Jack provides an incredibly stark contrast with Norm Coleman. Winning
candidates provide a clear, compelling choice to voters. And as a challenger, it's
critically important to keep the focus on the incumbent. I believe that on pressing
issues, on character and integrity, and on life experience, Jack poses the stark
contrast we need and can keep this race a referendum on the incumbent.

2. Minnesotans are thoughtful voters who reward authenticity and conviction. We
have a long history of supporting unconventional candidates who looked like long
shots only a few months before Election Day, but were able to connect on a human
level. I strongly believe that Jack's life story, courage, and authenticity are a
lock to make him the next such candidate.

3. Jack will have the resources he needs. This remains one of only a handful of
competitive Senate races in the country. Combining Jack's strong Minnesota base of
funders, a unified DFL, and a significant national interest will give him the
support he needs. He won't have the most money, but he doesn't need to. In 2006,
Mark Kennedy outspent Amy Klobuchar by nearly $1 million and lost by 20 points.
Moreover, Senators Tester (MT) and Webb (VA), each emerged from June primaries in
2006 without much in the bank and had no problem raising the resources they needed
to topple well-finded incumbents.

Will it be easy? Of course not. But can he do it? Absolutely.

I have nothing against Al Franken. I think he'd be a good Senator and a vast
improvement over Norm Coleman. If he is the endorsed candidate, I'll be happy to
support him and do what I can to make sure he wins this fall.

But as you make your decision on Saturday, I hope you think first about which
candidate you believe in most, which candidate speaks to your hopes. And with
confidence that he can indeed win this fall, I hope you cast your ballot for Jack
Nelson-Pallmeyer for Senate.

Sincerely,

Ben Goldfarb

Paid for by Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer for Senate

[dpbrown]

3. I don't think this is anything other than a timely endorsement, since the Convention is tomorrow

If I was running and I got Al Gore's endorsement, I'd want the Minnesota delegates to the State Convention to see it right before they were getting set to vote for the nominee as well.

[dpbrown]

4. Sorry, this was supposed to be a response to the original post

I can't type tonight, apparently.

:shrug:

[wellstone dem]

5. Same here, I will be voting for JNP