Norm Coleman versus Al Franken could get crazy

I’m actually quite surprised by how little national attention the Senate race in Minnesota has been getting. Of all of the Senate races currently happening, it’s this race, without a doubt, that will be one of the most lively and expensive.

For those of you who haven’t been following this race, basically its between the incumbent, Norm Coleman and former Saturday Night Live comedian and ultra-lefty, Al Franken.

Judging by this article, it looks like its going to only get more heated.

From CNN.com:

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The first time Norm Coleman went up against a celebrity for statewide office, he was slammed by former pro wrestler Jesse Ventura.

Coleman did better against his second famous opponent, edging former Vice President Walter Mondale to win his seat in the U.S. Senate.

He’s hoping to repeat that success in his third run against a well-known name in as many tries — Democrat Al Franken, the former “Saturday Night Live” comedian and radio host.

Sen. Coleman has become one of the state’s most recognizable politicians.

But in preparing for his latest fight, Coleman has tried to turn the spotlight back on Franken, criticizing some of the more outrageous or profane things he’s said or written in years of comedy routines and liberal commentary.

“If the partisan disease is what’s tearing Washington apart, for years he was part of that,” said Coleman, who officially launches his campaign Wednesday. “The talk radio culture, the Rush Limbaughs, the Ann Coulters, the Al Frankens. If that’s the disease, I’ve tried to be the cure to that disease for a long time.”

Coleman said Franken wouldn’t be able to “work across the aisle with people he has so ridiculed and so debased.”

It’s important to note that when Norm Coleman was first elected as the Mayor of Minneapolis in 1993, he ran as a Democrat, so he already has many ties to the Democrat establishment in the state. However, I guess “once friends, always friends” doesn’t apply here:

Coleman is no stranger to wild campaigns. First elected mayor of St. Paul in 1993 as a conservative Democrat, he switched to the Republican Party three years later. Many Democrats have resented him ever since.

Obviously, this isn’t going to be an easy race for Coleman to win. However, I’m convinced that his campaign manager, the “behind the scenes rockstar,” Cullen Sheehan has a strategy that will be able to appeal to the conservative base, but also reach out to the moderates who might not be sure how they are going to vote yet.

This is a race that I think the blogosphere can have a great impact in, simply because many people are going to be interested in following what Al Franken is doing as the campaign heats up.

I think its almost impossible to predict the outcome of races in Minnesota, just look at their former Governor, former WWF start Jesse Ventura.