Posted on 07/17/2014 7:08:07 AM PDT by cotton1706
Stuart Rothenberg, editor and publisher of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report, changed his rating on Sen. Al Franken’s race for re-election in Minnesota to reflect a slightly more competitive environment for the Democrat.
But Mr. Rothenberg, an experienced handicapper, was quick to note that his ratings change – from “safe Democrat” to “Democrat favored” – has everything to do with headwinds confronting the party and very little to do with Mr. Franken’s Republican opponent, businessman Mike McFadden.
“The change reflects the broad national environment and Minnesota’s generally competitive nature,” Mr. Rothenberg wrote in the online item that posted Monday morning. “The new rating says little about Republican challenger Mike McFadden’s candidacy, other than the fact that the wealthy businessman appears to have considerable personal resources that he can sink into the race if he wishes.”
There is little reason at this point for Democrats to worry about losing the Minnesota seat, despite Republican efforts to expand the map of competitive Senate races. Mr. Franken has had a comfortable lead in the few polls taken of the race, and the Democrat ended June with more than $5 million in the bank, according to his campaign, compared with the $2 million Mr. McFadden will report.
The race could easily tighten down the stretch, as Mr. McFadden continues introducing himself to voters and the Republican and his outside allies bombard Mr. Franken with negative ads. But Mr. Rothenberg changed his rating more to put the Minnesota seat in the same column with other Republican longshots in New Hampshire and Virginia.
Of course, with Republicans in striking distance of the six seats they need to reclaim the Senate majority, every tremor warrants some attention.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...
That clown hasn’t done anything in almost 6 years. He’s been doing nothing but consuming oxygen in the senate chamber.
Other than stealing an election almost 6 years ago, he’s done nothing but be a clown.
Al Franken should be vulnerable. In 2008, polls showed he was way behind Norm Coleman. On election day, as we know, it was a virutal tie, but Coleman was winning by a razor thin 700 votes. Eventually the recounts found uncounted Franken votes, and Franken was declared the winner by about 300 votes, after an appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
What has changed in Minnesota. Is Franken really that much more popular than he was before?
Yep, they tried and were successful in stealing that election for the Clown Franken
If MN voters have no more sense than to be represented in the Senate by Al Franken, they ought to put a new slogan on their license plates: The Clueless State.
Senator Blutarsky was unavailable for comment.
As a Minnesota, I will answer that question.
I thought that Franken would be an absolute disaster in the Senate, both in DC and at home. In fact, I was hoping he would be an absolute diasster.
To his credit, he has worked hard at not being such a insipid ass. His voting record sucks beyond all belief - but he’s done a pretty good job of not talking about that much.
The GOP nominee, Mike McFadden, is in my estimation, an empty suit - albeit a wealthy self-funding empty suit. DISCLAIMER - I backed someone else for the GOP endorsement back in June.
I don’t give him much of a chance at beating Franken. But then again, you never know.
Voters in MN have become more dependent on Welfare and the Precinct Captains will deliver those votes.
Unlike McDaniel, Norm let them steal it and we got Obycare... Thanks Norm!
“If MN voters have no more sense than to be represented in the Senate by Al Franken, they ought to put a new slogan on their license plates: The Clueless State.”
Don’t forget, we’re the same state that elected Jesse “The Asswipe” Ventura as Governor back in ‘98.
Once you get out of Da Cities, Uffdaville is pretty redstate....but unfortunately, the burgs have the population.
“...Norm let them steal it...”
To some degree, that’s true. But Coleman’s biggest problem was that he was all but invisible in his six years in the Senate. I could tell you Tom Coburn or Jim DeMint were doing - but never with Coleman. His six years in the Senate were relatively free of much legislative accomplishment.
Coleman didn’t seem to come back to the state much for photo ops. OTOH, Amy Klobuchar was always in the state campaigning. You couldn’t miss her at a local event. The voting public, like it or not, remembers that kind of stuff.
Lastly, Coleman’s re-election campaign was really slow and in-effective. His whole campaign theme seemed to be “Vote for me - I’m Not Al Franken”. He had nothing to run on.
In short, had Coleman made use of his six years in the Senate and actually bothered to run a credible re-election campaign, he would have won hands down and no amount of DFL voter fraud would have changed that.
It’s also a fresh tic-tac-toe game :)
Franken ranks not far behind Obama on my “I guess any moron can get elected” list.
Won’t even be close.
Have you seen McFadden’s ads on TV?
People in MN have been for decades truly dedicated to the worst of American life.
We need to hear from Lord Impy.
They’ve had six years to perfect fraud. TTV should be all over their absentee ballots.
“Have you seen McFadden’s ads on TV?”
No, I was aware that he had one but haven’t seen it.
Is it bad? Stupid? Inane?
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