Comedian Franken Rules Out Senate Run in 2006 (Reuters)
Comedian and Democratic activist Al Franken on Thursday ruled out a run for a Senate seat from Minnesota next year but left open the possibility of a potential candidacy in 2008. “Not running for the Senate in 2006,” he told reporters and his Air America Radio audience. “Minnesotans are very serious about their politics and it would be silly. I don’t live there.”
Franken, who has written several books satirizing conservatives and is perhaps best known for his performances on the NBC program “Saturday Night Live,” said he had committed to two more years at Air America Radio, a liberal talk show network. “I have been looking at the 2008 Senate seat, people know that,” he said. “If I go in 2008, you’re going to see me moving back there.”
Franken, who was born in New York and grew up in Minnesota, had been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Mark Dayton, who announced on Wednesday he will not seek re-election next year. Several Democrats are expected to consider a run, although there appeared to be no immediate front-runner.
It would have been an interesting campaign, although I can’t see Franken getting the Democratic nomination, much less winning. Granted, this is the state the elected Jesse Ventura governor. . . .
