SAINT PAUL [7/10/07] – Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken today wrote to Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) urging the Senator to change his position and vote to end the war in Iraq. The text of the letter is below. To download a radio actuality, click here.

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SAINT PAUL [7/8/07] – The Al Franken for Senate campaign announced today that it expected to report having raised over $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2007 when it files its quarterly report with the FEC on July 15.

The money was raised from nearly 28,000 donors. So far in 2007, over 36,000 donors have contributed a grand total of over $3.2 million. The campaign is particularly pleased to note that over 95% of contributions in the second quarter were $100 or less.

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SAINT PAUL [6/29/07] – U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken today received the endorsement of Teamsters Joint Council 32, which represents over 50,000 active and retired Teamsters in Minnesota, as well as Teamsters Local 120, which is the largest in the state.

Joint Council 32 President Dan Fortier made the announcement in a release, saying:

“Al Franken is Minnesota’s candidate for working families. Norm Coleman has repeatedly abandoned Minnesota working families. We need a Senator who will fight for better jobs – and Al Franken is the man for the job.”

Brad Slawson Jr., Chairman of Teamsters Local 120 PAC, added:

“We intend to turn out the vote for Al Franken. We will put the boots on the ground and fight to elect Al Franken. His election will allow us to use politics to bargain better contracts, protect American jobs, and organize new workers.”

Quote from Al Franken:

“I’m honored to receive the Teamsters’ support. Working families deserve access to quality health care, an affordable college education for their children, decent jobs at decent wages, and a secure retirement. Every one of these things is increasingly at risk today, and labor is the most effective line of defense for our middle class. Norm Coleman hasn’t stood up for Minnesota’s working families in the Senate. I will.

The Teamsters endorsement marks the second significant labor endorsement of the Senate race and the second for Al’s campaign in as many months. The United Steelworkers District 11 endorsed Al in May.
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In addition, Al Franken for Senate released the names of seven more Minnesota state legislators who have endorsed Al. They are: Sen. Dan Larson (Bloomington), Rep. Tom Anzelc (Balsam Township), Rep. Kent Eken (Twin Valley), Rep. Shelley Madore (Apple Valley), Rep. Tim Mahoney (St. Paul), Rep. Nora Slawik (Maplewood), and Rep. Tom Tilberry (Fridley).

This brings the number of Minnesota state legislators who have endorsed Al to 26: ten state Senators and sixteen state Representatives, including at least one from each congressional district. Al has also been endorsed by State Auditor Rebecca Otto.

Rep. Anzelc’s endorsement gives Al the first legislative endorsement from the Iron Range.

For more information, including a schedule of events and all sorts of multimedia goodies, please visit our on-line headquarters at www.alfranken.com.

MINNEAPOLIS [6/05/07] – The Al Franken for Senate campaign today announced that Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto has endorsed Al’s candidacy.

“After having spent the last year with Al on the campaign trail,” Otto said, “I know that he will never be afraid to speak his mind or vote his convictions in Washington. Al will always value principle over politics.”

In addition, the campaign released its first list of legislative endorsements, including nine members of the Minnesota Senate and ten members of the Minnesota House.

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MINNEAPOLIS [5/17/07] – Al Franken’s campaign for the U.S. Senate announced today that he has received the official endorsement of the United Steelworkers (USW) District #11.

In a release announcing the endorsement, Bob Bratulich, Director of USW District 11, cited Al’s support of universal health care, early childhood education, retirement security, and “fair trade,” as well as his strong support for the Employee Free Choice Act. He also noted that Al “is the only candidate running an aggressive, statewide grassroots campaign that has the capability of mobilizing working families in November 2008.”

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MINNEAPOLIS (04.04.07) – Al Franken for Senate today announced preliminary fundraising totals for the first quarter, which ended March 31.

The campaign expects to report over $1.3 million raised from over 10,000 contributors from all 50 states and Washington, DC. In addition, the campaign enters the second quarter with over $1 million cash on hand. This total represents funds raised in the campaign’s first 45 days after its February 14 launch.

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A newly-released poll indicates that the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota has tightened dramatically since satirist and author Al Franken announced his candidacy.

The poll, conducted on March 7 by independent pollster Rasmussen Reports, shows Senator Norm Coleman leading Franken 46% to 36%. Rasmussen notes that “incumbents who poll below 50% are considered potentially vulnerable.” In addition, Franken holds a lead among voters under age 30.

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Wednesday, February 14, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS–Award-winning satirist and Minnesota native Al Franken announced today that he would challenge Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) for his U.S. Senate seat in the 2008 election.

Franken made the announcement on the final edition of his Air America Radio program, “The Al Franken Show.”

“I’ve spent the last year traveling all around this state, talking to Minnesotans–and listening to them,” said Franken. “They told me they’re sick of politics as usual, and they’re sick of the usual politicians.

“I grew up in a hard-working middle-class family in Minnesota, and while I may have spent my career as a comedian, I’m serious about making government work better for families like the one I grew up in.”

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