It was the fact that the Governor of Minnesota publicly announced Al's replacement before even asking if he had made a decision that was the deciding factor. Unless Al has said something different to you personally or to someone you know personally (and I am using the same standard for my statement here) since last April, you can take that as gospel.

Yes, 30 other Democratic Senators jumped on the bandwagon. It was at the height of the Doug Jones campaign, and KG did come out with forceful language that convinced many Democratic Senators that a time window was rapidly closing, and that this was a boat they dare not miss. Never mind that his "accusers" had nothing to back up their accusations. The Senators erred in their judgment, every last one of them. Barring a public, personal apology to Al, there is not a one of them I will support in the primary next year. If Putin decides he wants a larger piece of the Ukraine, and sends his army to back that decision up, I want a cooler head as CIC to deal with it. I would rather have Al Franken, for that matter, in the Situation Room than ANY of his 30+ detractors.

I saw Gillibrand announce her candidacy on the Colbert show (I am in the States until Monday). She was lame, used stock phrases (going to "bring us all together?" Wow, what a daring plan!), and was not at all quick-thinking. Any Minnesotan progressive (or one from any other state) who was open-mindedly willing to let her state case should have gagged at her poor performance. It certainly gave me the impression that her hounding of Al Franken was brought on by design and not by conviction.