Campaign 2008

Dean Barkley ponders race for Senate

by Tom Crann, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — Revelations about DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken's tax history have some Democrats worried about his chances for defeating incumbent Republican Norm Coleman in the November election.

Former Gov. Jesse Ventura has recently said he may enter the race, and now Ventura's campaign manager, Dean Barkley, is considering it as well.

Barkley is the the man Gov. Ventura appointed to finish out the Senate term of the late Paul Wellstone -- the same seat that's now held by Coleman.

Barkley served in the Senate for a matter of weeks at that time. Most recently, he ran the gubernatorial campaign of Texas independent Kinky Friedman.

MPR's Tom Crann spoke with Barkley about his interest in the Senate race.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, 05/02/2008, 4:54 p.m.