Political pundits and the media will bestow a lot of attention on Minnesota this political season. Its Governor Tim Pawlenty is on John McCain’s short list for vice president. Minneapolis-St. Paul is the site of the Republican Convention in November. And, it features one of the country’s most competitive Senate races between incumbent Republican Norm Coleman and comedian Al Franken, the Democratic challenger. Coleman has built an impressive conservative record in the Senate, and he has a reputation for being honest and hard-working. And Al Franken? What can I say . . . loved him on Saturday Night Live. But this is Minnesota, a state with a deep liberal and sometimes even wacky political tradition. Senators like Eugene McCarthy, Hubert Humphrey, and Paul Wellstone are all examples of the state’s progressive bent and liberal past, while former pro-wrestler turned Governor Jesse Ventura shows Minnesotan’s proclivity for occasionally delving into the electorally bizarre. So I was heartened to read this Rasmussen poll today that suggests the North Star state’s voters are beginning to see that Senator Coleman deserves reelection. Any incumbent below 50% in these polls is no doubt vulnerable. So this race will inevitably take some twists and turns. But Coleman was essentially tied a month ago and below 50%. He has now opened up a 7-point lead and is right at 50%. This poll shows him moving in a strong positive direction.
