# This just in: Norm Coleman a 300 lb. Gorilla! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 2, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747 "2009-07-02T22:12:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/1 "2009-07-02T22:12:23Z")
[According to the Associated Press, Norm Coleman is interested in, and the front-running Republican for the office of Governor of the State of Minnesota.](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31709334/ns/politics-more_politics/) Which I guess just goes to show that demonstrating stubborn stupidity [isn’t a disqualification for the top office in more than one state](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31694081/ns/politics-more_politics/). Question: WHO in the world would think the guy would WIN?? ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/2 "2009-07-02T22:34:08Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > [According to the Associated Press, Norm Coleman is interested in, and the front-running Republican for the office of Governor of the State of Minnesota.](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31709334/ns/politics-more_politics/) > > Which I guess just goes to show that demonstrating stubborn stupidity [isn’t a disqualification for the top office in more than one state](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31694081/ns/politics-more_politics/). > Question: WHO in the world would think the guy would WIN?? I’m a resident of Minnesota, and when I first heard this, my reaction was similar to yours. Then I started thinking. Norm lost the senate race by a couple hundred votes. Out of over 3 million. All it might take is an independent candidate capable of splitting the Democratic vote, and an ad campaign that convinced people that Coleman was robbed of the senate seat, and he might have a chance. If he does run, I foresee a race that has little to do with actual political stances, and much more to do with “He deserved the senate seat, give him the governor mansion as a consolation” vs “Coleman was in a GPO lackey who purposely dragged out the election / dog in the manger” battles. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/3 "2009-07-02T23:48:04Z")
Didn’t Jesse Ventura beat him for Gov in 1998? I mean, he gets beat by a wresler, then a comic. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/4 "2009-07-03T00:40:51Z")
Third party candidates in Minnesota elections have often been a spoiler - they create almost a wildcard situation. Since they tend to be Independence Party candidates - which as far as I can tell is some sort of “practical” libratarianism - they split the vote in really odd fashions. And the Minnesota DFL seems stumped when putting up a candidate. Add to it that a likely DFL candidate at this point is St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and the confusion a Coleman Coleman election would cause, and I suspect that if Norm runs, you might as well flip a coin to get a winner. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/5 "2009-07-03T03:03:28Z")
He could be facing some real batshit-crazy competition. [http://draftbachmann.com/](http://draftbachmann.com/) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/6 "2009-07-03T03:37:35Z")
Well, who says he runs as a Republican? The man has long exhibited a marvelous flexibility, and there isn’t anything he won’t kiss, lick, or suck to further Norm Coleman. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/7 "2009-07-03T03:53:32Z")
Oh, what nonsense! Coleman is too vanilla! After the past few years, America rightfully expects nothing less of Minnesota politics than the very highest of [High Weirdness!](http://www.modemac.com/cgi-bin/wiki.pl) Give us **GOVERNOR ZOMBIE JUDY GARLAND!** ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/8 "2009-07-03T04:08:01Z")
Hmmmm. I moved out of MN in 1958, so if Coleman wins it’s no skin off my nose. And he would knock Pawlenty out of contention for Pres in '12 because nobody likes a loser, clearing the way for Palin. Sounds like a meh/win to me. ---
**Author:** ![judikium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@judikium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/judikium)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/9 "2009-07-03T04:50:31Z")
Most people around here think Coleman would get trounced, as both his and Franken’s reputations took a tough hit through the court battle. But he has the major benefit of name recognition, and I can’t think of any viable Democrats who have that luxury. As much I hate to say it, if a strong Independent candidate and a weak Democrat get into the race, Coleman could win. Oh and dropzone: Pawlenty isn’t running for a third term in 2010, presumably to clear his slate for 2012. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/10 "2009-07-03T04:57:09Z")
Like I said, I moved out 51 years ago. ---
**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:** [July 3, 2009, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/11 "2009-07-03T06:11:58Z")
This doesn’t surprise me. I think if he’d have pushed his election challenges any further, he’d have had no chance, but people have short memories, he’s now got the most name recognition of any Republican in the state, and the DFL doesn’t exactly have any Barack Obamas waiting in the wings. Minnesota also inevitably fields a third party challenge. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Dean Barkley take a run at this, but to be a true Norm Coleman election, somebody far more eccentric would have to run…maybe Prince will get the itch. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/12 "2009-07-03T07:37:23Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Minnesota also inevitably fields a third party challenge. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Dean Barkley take a run at this, but to be a true Norm Coleman election, somebody far more eccentric would have to run…maybe Prince will get the itch. And Coleman will lose again.. 😃 (I was tempted on removing that smilie, stranger things have taken place in Minnesota…) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/13 "2009-07-03T07:51:27Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > (I was tempted on removing that smilie, stranger things have taken place in Minnesota…) Dude, the [DFL](Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party) is still active and promenent. Is there another state that can claim that? Er, not that Coleman would stand a chance against the Wobblies… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/14 "2009-07-03T07:52:41Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > (I was tempted on removing that smilie, stranger things have taken place in Minnesota…) So, yer a snowbird? ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/15 "2009-07-03T23:21:20Z")
> [@Doug\_Bowe](#): > > Didn’t Jesse Ventura beat him for Gov in 1998? I mean, he gets beat by a wresler, then a comic. But remember, he did manage to beat a dead guy. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/16 "2009-07-04T13:55:41Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > This doesn’t surprise me. I think if he’d have pushed his election challenges any further, he’d have had no chance, but people have short memories, he’s now got the most name recognition of any Republican in the state, and the DFL doesn’t exactly have any Barack Obamas waiting in the wings. > > Minnesota also inevitably fields a third party challenge. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Dean Barkley take a run at this, but to be a true Norm Coleman election, somebody far more eccentric would have to run…maybe Prince will get the itch. Garrison Keillor HATES Coleman and is wildly popular on the left. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/17 "2009-07-05T05:24:18Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Oh, what nonsense! Coleman is too vanilla! After the past few years, America rightfully expects nothing less of Minnesota politics than the very highest of [High Weirdness!](http://www.modemac.com/cgi-bin/wiki.pl) Give us **GOVERNOR ZOMBIE JUDY GARLAND!** You think Bachmann would be too much for them, I take it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/18 "2009-07-05T19:01:49Z")
This thread would be so much more interesting with a “versus” in the title. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/19 "2009-07-05T21:03:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > This thread would be so much more interesting with a “versus” in the title. That’s how I read it originally. MUCH more interesting that way. I’d pay money to watch. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747/20 "2009-07-05T21:49:30Z")
I was thinking along the lines of “slash” porn. Gorilla my dreams, as it were. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-just-in-norm-coleman-a-300-lb-gorilla/501747.md?page=2)