Al Franken

MPR Photo/Mark Zdechlik

Election Coverage from MPR

Franken outraises Coleman in latest reporting period

New campaign finance reports show that DFL challenger Al Franken raised nearly twice as much money as Republican Sen. Norm Coleman during the last reporting period. (10/15/2008)

Poll shows Obama ahead in Minnesota

A new poll shows that Barack Obama has a commanding lead in Minnesota, and the race for Minnesota's U.S. Senate seat is very tight. (10/14/2008)

Meet the Candidates: Al Franken

Al Franken, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, joins Midday for our "Meet the Candidates" series. (Midday, 10/14/2008)

US Senate candidates emphasize their differences in debate

Minnesota's three major party U.S. Senate candidates all gave different answers when asked what they think the nation's biggest threat is. (10/11/2008)

Coleman says he'll pull negative ads to focus on economy

Republican U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman said today he will suspend any negative campaign ads he has control over because of the economic crisis. (10/10/2008)

Coleman shifts position on Social Security

DFL Senate candidate Al Franken is criticizing Republican Sen. Norm Coleman on Social Security. (10/09/2008)

Poll: Economy costs Coleman lead in Senate race

New Minnesota Public Radio News/University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute polls indicate the bad economic news last week cost Republican Sen. Norm Coleman a lead in the U.S. Senate race. (10/08/2008)

Mixed metaphors describe economic crisis

The hotly debated $700 billion bailout bill passed by Congress last week introduced a number of complicated financial concepts into the pop culture lexicon lately. (10/06/2008)

U.S. Senate candidates square off

Midday rebroadcasts the first U.S. Senate debate with Republican candidate Norm Coleman, Democratic candidate Al Franken and Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley. (Midday, 10/06/2008)

Debate showcases intensity in Minn. Senate race

An unsettled U.S. Senate race provoked sharp exchanges Sunday night between Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and Democratic challenger Al Franken on the ailing economy, the war in Iraq and the art of compromise. A third man in the race, Dean Barkley, kept both rivals on their toes. (10/05/2008)

Candidate snapshot

Party: DFL

Biography

Date of Birth: 05/21/1951

Place of Birth: New York, N.Y.

Education: BA, General Studies, Harvard University, 1973

Positions Held: Founder, Midwest Values PAC

Business/Professional Experience: Host, The O'Franken Factor, Air America Radio, 2004 -2006; Served as a Fellow with Harvard's Kennedy School of Government at the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, 2003; Writer, Saturday Night Live, 1973-1980, 1985-1995

Religion: Jewish

Resources

Official campaign site

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