# 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:** 17
**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:** [December 19, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/321 "2008-12-19T15:31:57Z")
As expected, Franken is now ahead. Both campaigns have lots of withdrawn ballots that need to be added back to the totals and no one seems to know how many there are. Also, Coleman’s double-counted ballot claim seems to be getting an unreceptive response from the board. It’s a long-shot for him I would think. Also, for those not in MN, it has been revealed that the FBI is now investigating Coleman for accepting $75,000 from a Texas businessman. Win or lose, he’s going to have that issue kicking around. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/322 "2008-12-19T15:45:49Z")
> [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](#): > > Also, for those not in MN, it has been revealed that the FBI is now investigating Coleman for accepting $75,000 from a Texas businessman. Why’s that a problem? Too big a campaign contribution to be legal, or what? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/323 "2008-12-19T16:09:15Z")
Franken’s lead is currently around 75 votes. ---
**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:** [December 19, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/324 "2008-12-19T16:23:43Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Why’s that a problem? Too big a campaign contribution to be legal, or what? It was supposedly paid to Laurie Coleman for “work” she did for the Texas company. It was unreported by the Coleman campaign. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/325 "2008-12-19T16:41:56Z")
So the live video at the Star Tribune site now says “Franken +102” and “Ballots reviewed: 1028.” What’s this mean? Is Franken ahead now, or does he need to get past +215 to catch up to Coleman, or some higher number? ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/326 "2008-12-19T16:44:26Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > So the live video at the Star Tribune site now says “Franken +102” and “Ballots reviewed: 1028.” What’s this mean? Is Franken ahead now, or does he need to get past +215 to catch up to Coleman, or some higher number? He is ahead, but some of the withdrawn challenges haven’t been added into that number, so it is impossible to tell exactly where things are at. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/327 "2008-12-19T16:45:42Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > And yet the write in of Brett Favre was also accepted. Presumably the idea of a Minnesotan voting for Brett Favre for President is also ridiculous? > > [http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/12/brett-favre-beats-lizard-people.html](http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/12/brett-favre-beats-lizard-people.html) Brett Farve was only listed for the president. The Lizard King was listed for president and senate. That is a significant difference. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/328 "2008-12-19T16:53:13Z")
> [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](#): > > Also, for those not in MN, it has been revealed that the FBI is now investigating Coleman for accepting $75,000 from a Texas businessman. . No, they aren’t. Here, read the actual article: [FBI reviewing allegations involving Norm Coleman ally, source says – Twin Cities](http://www.twincities.com/ci_11180391?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com) The FBI is reviewing the allegations in the lawsuits, since they have jurisdiction. But here’s an important quote from the article: > [@](#): > > Neither lawsuit alleges the money actually made it to Coleman or that the Colemans knew about the alleged plan. That’s why its such an obvious smear tactic to say ‘Coleman is being investigated’. Note the headline even has it right “FBI reviewing allegations involving Norm Coleman **ally** , source says” It’s no different than saying Obama is being investigated by the FBI, when the FBI is really investigating Blago or Acorn or something. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/329 "2008-12-19T16:58:21Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > Brett Farve was only listed for the president. The Lizard King was listed for president and senate. That is a significant difference. Heretic! You doubt the Lizard King’s capacity for multitasking? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/330 "2008-12-19T17:04:29Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Heretic! You doubt the Lizard King’s capacity for multitasking? Well, he couldn’t quite handle that “being high and taking a bath at the same time” thing… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Understander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@The\_Understander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Understander)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/331 "2008-12-19T17:32:22Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > No, they aren’t. Here, read the actual article: [FBI reviewing allegations involving Norm Coleman ally, source says – Twin Cities](http://www.twincities.com/ci_11180391?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com) > > The FBI is reviewing the allegations in the lawsuits, since they have jurisdiction. But here’s an important quote from the article: > That’s why its such an obvious smear tactic to say ‘Coleman is being investigated’. Note the headline even has it right “FBI reviewing allegations involving Norm Coleman **ally** , source says” > > It’s no different than saying Obama is being investigated by the FBI, when the FBI is really investigating Blago or Acorn or something. It would be if Blago or ACORN were accused of trying to steer money to the President-Elect. Of course, I could see how one might miss that, being buried in the sub-headline as it was… ---
**Author:** ![haymarketmartyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@haymarketmartyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/haymarketmartyr)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/332 "2008-12-19T18:55:30Z")
Franken up 266 at the lunch break. ---
**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:** [December 19, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/333 "2008-12-19T19:12:41Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > No, they aren’t. Here, read the actual article: [FBI reviewing allegations involving Norm Coleman ally, source says – Twin Cities](http://www.twincities.com/ci_11180391?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com) > > The FBI is reviewing the allegations in the lawsuits, since they have jurisdiction. But here’s an important quote from the article: > That’s why its such an obvious smear tactic to say ‘Coleman is being investigated’. Note the headline even has it right “FBI reviewing allegations involving Norm Coleman **ally** , source says” > > It’s no different than saying Obama is being investigated by the FBI, when the FBI is really investigating Blago or Acorn or something. Then he’s in the clear and has nothing to worry about at all with this! I think you may have missed the part from your own cite which says > [@](#): > > They allege a host of improprieties, including that Kazeminy tried improperly to send Deep Marine money Coleman’s way for no legitimate reason. For everyone’s enjoyment, here’s video of the Coleman team giving full disclosure about some fancy suits he allegedly received form the same guy. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUmGdmbuRfA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUmGdmbuRfA) ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/334 "2008-12-19T19:40:07Z")
> [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](#): > > Then he’s in the clear and has nothing to worry about at all with this! Exactly! Well, actually, not quite. Because there can be politically fallout caused by people deliberately misrepresenting what’s happening in an attempt to make him look bad. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/335 "2008-12-19T19:50:33Z")
It would be difficult for public opinion of Coleman to sink much lower in this state. The fact that he’s about to get beat by Stuart fucking Smalley is testament to that. Incidentally, Coleman has never been shy about resorting to unfounded political smears, so fuck him. Plus he’s probably guilty anyway. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/336 "2008-12-19T20:00:22Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It would be difficult for public opinion of Coleman to sink much lower in this state. The fact that he’s about to get beat by Stuart fucking Smalley is testament to that. Gosh darnit people like him! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/337 "2008-12-19T20:19:32Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It would be difficult for public opinion of Coleman to sink much lower in this state. The fact that he’s about to get beat by Stuart fucking Smalley is testament to that. > > Incidentally, Coleman has never been shy about resorting to unfounded political smears, so fuck him. Plus he’s probably guilty anyway. Indeed - and the fact that it is so close tells us how a lot about the state’s feeling towards Franken. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/338 "2008-12-19T20:26:23Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The fact that he’s about to get beat by Stuart fucking Smalley is testament to that. I watched _Trading Places_ the other night. “Son of a bitch,” I said to myself, “Al Franken hasn’t changed a bit.” ---
**Author:** ![haymarketmartyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@haymarketmartyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/haymarketmartyr)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/339 "2008-12-19T20:30:09Z")
Since Coleman also lost to Jesse Ventura, this puts him in quite a unique class. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239/340 "2008-12-19T21:11:43Z")
That’s my big beef with Franken. Just about any American cheese on white bread with mayo Lutheran DFL-er could have handed Coleman his ass. Somebody without the “Hollywood” baggage that Franken has to haul around. The risk wasn’t necessary, Franken is ok, but so are a lot of other people who would have handily whupped Coleman’s smarmy butt. Now, if Al wins, I’ll be glad, but mostly because I cannot stand Coleman. But the gamble wasn’t needful, and Al should have put his star power and money to a less risky effort. Grumble, grumble. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-al-frankens-senate-bid-going/437239.md?page=18)