Al’s spending this week in conversation with Minnesota’s middle class ­ because Norm Coleman hasn’t been a voice for them in Washington. Monday he sat down at the homes of Minnesotans in Golden Valley and Coon Rapids.

Al says: “It’s getting harder and harder for middle-class families in this state to get ahead. Wages are flat or declining, and everything from food and gas to health care and college tuition is getting more expensive. Minnesotans need a Senator who’s got their back – but Norm Coleman isn’t even on their side.”

(more…)

Al visited Morton for a local DFL fundraising event and sat down with Rae Kruger from the Marshall Independent while he was in town. He talked about the farm bill and the support he’s finding in rural Minnesota.

(more…)

Our campaign is all conventions all the time these days, with Senate District and County Unit conventions every weekend. And the Park Rapids Enterprise did a great job of outlining what exactly goes on inside a county convention.

Click here to read about the candidate speeches, resolutions passed, and who the delegates support (hint: it was Al).

(more…)

Al headed up to Duluth for a campaign meet and greet at the Holiday Inn and Northland News was on hand to film it – you can check out the video (a portion of Al’s speech along with some meeting and greeting) here. Or read the AHN write-up:

DFL candidate for senate, Al Franken, continues to furiously campaign across Minnesota, capitalizing on the dead heat between himself and incumbent Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN).

(more…)

Al at the Green Mill in Bemidji:

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken gestures the size of walleye fillet he’d like Sunday night at the Green Mill before getting a briefing from Pam McCrory of Bemidji, his field organizer for northern Minnesota, and John McCarthy, former Beltrami County DFL associate chairman and longtime Democratic activist. Pioneer Photo/Brad Swenson

(more…)

Franni and Thomasin headed to Charlie’s Cafe to chat with voters about Al and the campaign. The Melrose Beacon was on hand to record the event.

“Our philosophy is that if you are going to be a senator for the entire state, then you have to talk to the people of the state,” said Franni Franken. “We have been in more than 60 counties providing information on [Franken] and his views.”

(more…)

Al hit a house party in Walker last week during his great northern Minnesota swing. And Hope from the Walker Pilot Independent covered his talk, which ranged from health care, to foreign policy, to education:

“Parents shouldn’t have to pay activity fees for their kids to play sports or participate in arts or music programs,” [Al Franken] declared. We didn’t have activity fees when I was a kid. Studies show that the number one determinant of whether a kid stays in school is whether they identify with their school. What do you want your kids doing between 3 and 6 p.m? I’d want mine learning skills and school spirit.”

(more…)

There’s no stopping the week before causes, and TeamFranken knows it. One week before the big day, we went on a tour of northern Minnesota that took us to eighteen towns. We just got back yesterday – right on time for the biggest GOTC (Get Out The Caucus) drive this state has ever seen.

And Minnesotans are READY. Everywhere we went – from Esko to Park Rapids to Crookston to Wadena – the crowds turned out. And not just to see Al – to get to work putting him in the senate. Hundreds – maybe more – signed up to caucus for Al right there at the events.

(more…)

Thursday night, our northern Minnesota swing parked in Crookston’s Northland Inn. 150 people turned out to see Al – and Crookston Times editor Mike Christopherson was one of them.

From the importance of American Crystal Sugar to the Red River Valley, to global warming and the war in Iraq, Franken touched on a whole slate of issues during his speech.

…

(more…)

The temperature clocked in below zero as Franni and TeamFranken bundled up for an early morning drive out west.

First stop, Montevideo. At the local paper we were told to hurry ourselves over to the coffee shop down the street, where a group of local men get together every morning to discuss the issues of the day. So hurry we did, and sure enough, there they were – and they weren’t shy about letting us know that they weren’t all DFLers. But in good Minnesota fashion, they were still ready to talk politics and the economy with Franni – and it was the highlight of Franni’s day.

(more…)