US comedian Al Franken has announced his intention to run for the US Senate in 2008, confirming his plans to seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Norm Coleman.
Franken's announcement came on the final day of his radio show on Air America. The former Saturday Night Liveperformer's celebrity instantly makes him a heavyweight contender and brings national attention to the Minnesota race.
"Minnesotans have a right to be skeptical about whether I'm ready for this challenge, and to wonder how seriously I would take the responsibility that I'm asking you to give me," Franken said in a video clip posted on his Web site.
"I want you to know: nothing means more to me than making government work better for the working families of this state, and over the next 20 months I look forward to proving to you that I take these issues seriously," Franken said in a transcript of the clip.
Though Franken has a well-known name and is likely to be well-funded, he's expected to be challenged by several other Democrats, including wealthy trial attorney Mike Ciresi.
Franken, 55, was born in New York City but grew up in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park. He graduated from Harvard University in 1973, and in 1975 he and writing partner Tom Davis joined the writing staff of Saturday Night Liveduring its first season. They soon started appearing in sketches, and Franken remained a fixture on the show well into the 1990s.
In 1996 Franken took his career in a political direction when he wrote Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations, a broadside against the conservative radio host and other figures on the right. He's since published several other books critical of Republicans and the conservative establishment.
As early as 2003, Franken said he was considering a run for the Minnesota US Senate seat previously held by his friend, the late Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone.
In 2004 Franken joined the upstart liberal radio network Air America as its biggest-name host. He soon got more directly involved in politics, forming a political action committee that raised more than $1 million for Democratic candidates in the last election cycle.
In 2005, Franken and his wife, Franni, moved back to the Twin Cities, which was widely interpreted as laying the groundwork for a campaign. He announced a few weeks ago that Wednesday would be his last day on Air America, but continued to play coy about his aspirations while privately telling prominent DFLers about his plans to run.
Franken is stringing out his announcement over two days — today's announcement, and a scheduled first public appearance as a candidate tomorrow morning at a clinic in south Minneapolis.
In his Web site message, Franken acknowledges he's not a "typical politician." But he stresses his Minnesota roots, talking about his father's decision to open a quilting factory in Albert Lea that failed after two years, prompting the family's move to the Twin Cities.
Franken's celebrity is likely to give him an edge over other Democrats in getting attention, but is no guarantee he'll get past the primary. Besides Ciresi, other names mentioned as potential candidates include state senators Tarryl Clark, Mee Moua and Tom Bakk, and state Rep. Joe Atkins.
AP