Comedian Al Franken makes Minnesota Senate bid
2 hours, 8 minutes ago
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Comedian and political commentator Al Franken said on Wednesday he will seek the Democratic nomination to run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Minnesota Republican Norm Coleman (news, bio, voting record).
The 55-year-old Harvard graduate, in an announcement posted on his Web site, said, "I'm not a typical politician (but) nothing means more to me than making government work better for the working families of this state."
Franken gained national fame as a performer and Emmy-winning writer on the NBC comedy show "Saturday Night Live" and also is a best-selling author.
He likely will face several other would-be candidates for the Democratic nomination.
Franken's announcement coincided with his last day as an on-air commentator for Air America, a radio network he helped launch in 2004 as a voice for the political left. He said his contact with the people of Minnesota, where he grew up and still lives, show "they're sick of politics as usual and they're sick of the usual politicians."