# How's Al Franken's Senate bid going? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 12, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239 "2008-02-12T01:57:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/1 "2008-02-12T01:57:19Z")
Haven’t heard much about it since [a year ago.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=408536) When and how will the Dem nominee be chosen? Franken’s [website](http://www.alfranken.com/) doesn’t seem to say. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/2 "2008-02-12T03:09:45Z")
The informal straw poll at my caucus had him 56 to 23. But nothing will be decided until the the State convention. It’s now up to the political actors in the smokey back rooms. > [@](#): > > [In the coming weeks](http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iSTKMxwHBxGiHYZ5knPdDpBOTJfgD8UOC9HO0), Ciresi and his supporters will be arguing his potential strength as the Democratic candidate in a series of local party meetings that lead up to the state Democratic convention in June. There, about 1,400 delegates will endorse a candidate for the September primary. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/3 "2008-02-12T17:44:10Z")
A poll taken before the caucuses showed Franken with a large lead over Ciresi. I suspect that will filter through the ranks and we will end up with Franken. Ciresi is spending a ton of his own money on his effort and is not going without a fight. His big selling point is that he thinks he is more electable, but I have doubts about that. A recent poll put Franken even with Coleman and for an incumbent to be at that point this early is a sign that he is in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/4 "2008-02-12T18:01:35Z")
But, one thing to keep in mind. Cirisi is the preferred candidate of the Minnesota DFL political machine. Polls and Caucus straw polls mean little right now. I just hope the political machine isn’t stupid enough to endorse against the obvious will of the people. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/5 "2008-05-01T22:53:06Z")
[Not without its problems:](http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h9G51QeAzd24Pf93rsKd9nRJzaogD90CAD900) > [@](#): > > Senate candidate Al Franken, dogged by accusations that he failed to file tax returns in California, said Tuesday he will pay about $70,000 in back income taxes in 17 states dating to 2003. > > Most of the income at issue was from speeches and other paid appearances by the comedian-turned candidate, who said he got bad advice from his accountant but takes responsibility for the errors. > > The Minnesota Democrat told The Associated Press that he and his wife, Franni, “paid taxes on every cent of income we ever had.” He said that during the years in question, he followed the accountant’s advice and paid his entire income tax bill to the city and state where he lived at the time. He lived in New York City from 2003-05 and Minnesota in 2006. > > “What happened is our accountant made a mistake, and all of these are repercussions of that same mistake,” said Franken. “His mistake was not understanding the law, the obligation to pay these state taxes.”… > > The campaign said last month it would pay a $25,000 fine to the state of New York for failure to carry workers’ compensation insurance there. > > The state Republican Party swiftly issued a statement in which it said Franken’s “admission that he has violated laws in 17 different states since 2003 is only the beginning of the story.” > > Party chairman Ron Carey said Franken’s business activities “must have a full, and complete public airing if he is to retain any credibility as a candidate for public office.” > > In a conference call with reporters, Coleman called Franken’s admission troubling. “Paying taxes is an obligation that I think Minnesotans expect to be adhered to, and that Minnesotans do,” Coleman said. Oops. Well, it could [be worse](http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-wesley-snipes-080425-ht,0,2873470.story). ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/6 "2008-05-01T23:16:26Z")
Re: paying taxes. I don’t think this will hurt him in the long run (or even much in the short run). He didn’t fail to pay the taxes, he just paid them to the wrong state. It’s pretty clear it was a mistake (and possibly not even his) rather than an intentional act. Heck, most voters will probably sympathize. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/7 "2008-05-01T23:25:22Z")
He’s Good Enough, He’s Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Him! ---
**Author:** ![Lambo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lambo)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/8 "2008-05-02T00:16:45Z")
[QUOTE=TimeWinder] Re: paying taxes. I don’t think this will hurt him in the long run (or even much in the short run). He didn’t fail to pay the taxes, he just paid them to the wrong state. It’s pretty clear it was a mistake (and possibly not even his) rather than an intentional act. Heck, most voters will probably sympathize. [/QUOTE] I’m an alternate (well, half-alternate) to the state convention. The day this broke big, his campaign handled it pretty well - they had calls going to every delegate and alternate, explaining what happened, how it happened, and discussing their concerns with them. I, personally, was not really bothered by the story - things happen (although he should have found out about it earlier in the cycle, I think). ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/9 "2008-05-02T01:29:58Z")
The New York Times Magazine had a[cover article](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E6DA1731F932A15750C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all) about five weeks ago. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/10 "2008-05-02T03:36:33Z")
[QUOTE=GilaB] The New York Times Magazine had a[cover article](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E6DA1731F932A15750C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all) about five weeks ago. [/QUOTE] Damn, I never heard about him taking down the heckler. Now I kinda respect the guy (Al Franken, not the heckler). ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/11 "2008-05-02T12:57:09Z")
The DFL delegates will choose a Senate candidate at their state convention on Saturday, June 7th. Currently, their are 2 possibilities, Al Franken & Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. Franken has the most delegates now, but not enough to guarantee the endorsement; there are still quite a few officially uncommitted delegates. This tax issue is unlikely to affect the delegates much. Franken’s quick response, and communication with delegates, has probably ensured that. (Franken will actually gain a few thousand dollars from this! He reported all his income in Minnesota, which is a fairly high-tax state. His refund from the overpaid Minnesota taxes will be bigger than the taxes he just paid to these other states.) Franken has dropped in comparison to Republican Norm Coleman in the latest polls. Partly because the Republicans have decided he is likely to be the DFL candidate, and have started to target him in ads, blogs, the press, etc. But I think he is still only 7 or 8% behind Coleman – that is a very vulnerable position for a well-financed incumbent, especially a loyal Bush Republican in these times. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/12 "2008-05-02T14:52:24Z")
Right - this was supposed to be one of the most vulnerable seats, and the Dems want badly to grab it. But they chose a comedian as their candidate, and that’s what they seem to be winding up with. Early days yet, but seven points behind in a state like MN does not bode well for the future. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/13 "2008-05-02T14:56:35Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] Right - this was supposed to be one of the most vulnerable seats, and the Dems want badly to grab it. But they chose a comedian as their candidate, and that’s what they seem to be winding up with. [/QUOTE] As opposed to the [clown](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan) that the Republicans ran in 1980? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/14 "2008-05-02T15:50:13Z")
[QUOTE=FriarTed] Damn, I never heard about him taking down the heckler. Now I kinda respect the guy (Al Franken, not the heckler). [/QUOTE] When a professional comedian gets into politics, heckling is an unwise mode of attack. It’s like trying to pick a fistfight with Steven Seagal. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/15 "2008-05-02T16:01:01Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] How’s Al Franken’s Senate bid going? [/QUOTE] [Could be better.](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/02/blogger-targets-al-franken-in-minnesota-senate-race/) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/16 "2008-05-02T16:40:51Z")
The important question at this point, ISTM, is how this tax business will affect Franken’s chances at the **nomination.** It’s the sort of thing that can be expected to die down by November; the Pubs will look silly if they try to keep it alive that long, as if that’s all they’ve got. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/17 "2008-05-02T16:48:45Z")
[QUOTE=GilaB] The New York Times Magazine had a[cover article](http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E6DA1731F932A15750C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all) about five weeks ago. [/QUOTE] I assume a typo or “weeks” for “years” (unless I’m missing something?). The article says it was published in 2004. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/18 "2008-05-02T17:10:47Z")
Not paying taxes is pretty bad - not paying workers compensation seems even worse. Especially since Franken would presumably raise mandates like this on businesses through his health care policies, for instance. If he won’t pay them, then he deserves to be called on it when he asks others to pay. And let’s also say this accounting error stuff doesn’t wash with me. A man running for Senate ought to know that people and businesses sometimes owe taxes to different states. If he doesn’t know that, he has no business even running. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/19 "2008-05-02T18:28:41Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] Not paying taxes is pretty bad - not paying workers compensation seems even worse. Especially since Franken would presumably raise mandates like this on businesses through his health care policies, for instance. If he won’t pay them, then he deserves to be called on it when he asks others to pay. And let’s also say this accounting error stuff doesn’t wash with me. A man running for Senate ought to know that people and businesses sometimes owe taxes to different states. If he doesn’t know that, he has no business even running. [/QUOTE] Did you write this understanding that he simply didn’t pay his taxes, or understanding that he had paid his taxes, but to the wrong state? Because I believe this is a case of the latter (he may even as a result of the mistake have paid too much tax). I agree he should have got this right, but it seems a stretch to bring up the whole “he asks others to pay, but won’t pay himself” argument given that his mistake didn’t result in him paying any less tax. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/20 "2008-05-02T18:40:35Z")
Just to add, my comments above refer to the taxes. I agree the lack of workers compensation insurance is worse, assuming that is a New York law. The campaign really ought to have known better. Still, it is something I’d forgive if I felt it was an unintentional error, but it would certainly be an issue if they made a habit of it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239.md?page=2)