Al Franken's stump speech: "I wasn't afraid...."

[DeepModem Mom]

Run time: 03:12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDhZfcaiGkY   Posted on YouTube: April 09, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: April 10, 2008 By DU Member: DeepModem Mom Views on DU: 1601

 

[NJSecularist]

1. What a terrific speech.

I cannot wait for him to take on Norm Coleman.

[Mojambo]

2. He's coming along nicely.

For a guy who is a novice at this he really sounds good.

[biscotti]

3. Go Al Go

[DUlover2909]

4. I wish I could vote for him!

[grantcart]

11. you can by sending $ 10 bucks if you have it. They need money

http://www.alfranken.com/content/splash_video_20080326/

[DUlover2909]

16. I sent him $10

Thanks for the link.

[Zachstar]

5. Right to the point and very telling that he is not going to be a pushover.

As long as we continue to support the people running we stand a great chance at getting a filibuster proof congress!

[ClayZ]

6. Bravo! K and R

[SeattleGirl]

7. Thank you, DMM!

God, I had almost forgotten how much I love Al Franken!

If I lived in Minnesota, I would vote for him for sure!

[GOPBasher]

8. Anyone know of any polls in that race?

I'm wondering how he's doing.

[grantcart]

15. Basically a tie at this point. Obama's coat tails will help

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Minnesota voters found Republican Norm Coleman regaining a statistically insignificant lead over Democrat Al Franken in the race for the United States Senate. The incumbent Senator leads the comedian 48% to 46%.

A month ago, Franken had a three-point lead over Coleman. Since then, Democratic candidate Mike Ciresi withdrew from the race. Ciresi was just two points behind the incumbent.

Coleman has long been considered one of the more vulnerable incumbent senators up for re-election in 2008. Any incumbent who polls below 50% is considered potentially vulnerable and that is especially true for an incumbent who trails a challenger early in the campaign. Other Republican seats at risk in the 2008 election cycle include New Hampshire, Colorado, and Virginia.

The race in Minnesota is close among unaffiliated voters, with Franken holding a small lead. The comedian does very well among politically moderate voters, leading Coleman 56% to 38%.

Coleman is viewed favorably by 52% and unfavorably by 44%. Franken earns positive ratings from 48% and negative opinions from 45%.

When it comes to the upcoming election, the economy is the most important voting issue for 39% of voters in the North Star state. The War in Iraq is the issue of highest importance for 20%.

[kenfrequed]

17. This chart is a problem.

It indicates to me that the more the general voting public gets to know Franken, the less well he is being recieved.

[Divernan]

9. I appreciated his serious demeanor the entire speech - no shouting, manic smiles, or wild gesturing

He talked tough, but was serious and calm - like Obama. He sounded sincere, not overly-controlled. It's called being statesmanlike, as opposed to the rigidly smiling while angrily shouting, wildly gesticulating delivery of another candidate.

[harun]

14. I think that demeanor will win him the seat if he maintains it, the people

of Minnesota want to make sure he is serious. That speech was perfect in terms of tone and subject. Go Al.

[kenfrequed]

10. As a Minnesotan...

Despite his national image and his great books he is not the best candidate running for Democratic nomination in Minnesota.

On the issues Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is more progressive than Franken on every score. The Iraq war, the environment, Fair trade policies, and labor. He really is more in the mold of another Democratic Senator that we were lucky enough to have before Coleman.

Some might use the electability argument, but I have seen him debate and have to answer questions in a public arena and it ends up being a stammer-fest. I think he is good at prepared speeches as any good candidate ought to be but whether it is answering questions on the floor of a caucus, answering reporters questions, or debating his fellow democrats he wanders around.

It would be one thing if he gave overly long and involved answers or if he could even spin the question I would accept some of this, at least as far as the "electable" argument goes. But if his performance in the various democratic debates is a prolouge to how he answers questions when debating Norm then we Minnesotans may end up stuck with that smiling Bush suck-up for quite some time.

This said I really do like Al. He is a funny guy, a great writer, and a wonderful satirist, I just don't think he is the best candidate for the Senate.

[DeepModem Mom]

13. Thanks for your post. I think you, or another Minnesotan...

has expressed that view before here: a preference for Franken's opponent.

[libodem]

12. Man

I like that guy. I have to root for the Dem's from other states since my own state elects men such as Larry Craig. All we ever send are mouthpieces for the Repub party. Man, it would be nice if Idaho ever had another Frank Church.