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Franken wins DFL endorsement
Al Franken captured the DFL endorsement for Senate Saturday, but not before some drama on the floor of party's state convention at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. The odds-on favorite Franken, and the long-shot college professor Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer spent the firt part of the day in an intense game of persuasion before delegates cast their first ballots. Franken, the author, political satirist and former Saturday Night Live writer and cast member had emerged from the February 25 precinct caucuses as the clear frontrunner and appeared unstoppable when trial attorney Mike Ciresi exited the race in March. But on Saturday his operatives could be seen circulating through the convention hall with intense looks in their eyes, shoring up support with previously committed delegates to make sure they didn't jump into the Nelson-Pallmeyer fold. "Norm Coleman has been a cheerleader for the worst administration in US history," Nelson-Pallmeyer declared, "When do we send him packing?" The normally subdued social activist and professor of peace and justice at the University of Saint Thomas, gave a rousing speech calling on delegates to change the course in America. "Now is the time to end a war that is bankrupting our country," Pallmeyer told delegates to enthusiastic applause, "Now is the time to support our soldiers. Never again will we send them to fight an unnecessary war." In the weeks leading up to the convention Nelson-Pallmeyer had sensed he was gaining momentum, grabbing new commitments from delegates and alternates around the state. He picked up steam, in part, due to the flap over Franken's past comedy efforts which resurfaced with help of Republicans, words even some DFL leaders found offensive and disrespectful to women. Apology from the stage Franken addressed the issue head-on Saturday, apologizing directly to delegates. "It kills me, the things I said and wrote sent a message to some of my friends in this room and the people in this state that they can't count on me to be a champion for women," Franken remarked. "I'm sorry for that." Republicans last month provided the media with text copes of a Playboy magazine article from January of 2000 entitled Porn-O-Rama. Told in the first person, it described a futuristic tour of a virtul sex machine factory. Congresswoman Betty McCollum told Washington reporters last week she found the racy article offensive, and worried Franken's off-colored bit could drag down other Democrats. Republicans also criticized comments Franken made during an interview with New York magazine in 1995. He said the show was kicking around the idea for sketch, in which 60 Minutes commentator Andy Rooney would discuss drugging and raping CBS correspondent Leslie Stahl. The skit was never performed on the show, but the very idea provoked a strong reaction. Even Planned Parenthood's legislative director said the group was reconsidering it's endorsement of Franken, because of the seriousness of the rape issue. Franken reminded delegates he's been married to Franni for 32 years, and raised his son and daughter to respect women. "I wrote a lot of jokes," Franken told the capacity crowed, "Some of them weren't funny. Some of them weren't appropriate, some of them were downright offensive." Franken said Minnesotans shouldn't be worried about their senator saying or writing things that make them uncomfortable. But he pledged to make Republicans and special interests in Washington feel uncomfortable. "We're just going to have to make Norm Coleman a little bit uncomfortable by holding him accountable!" As for the Big Oil and pharmaceuticals? "You can keep your PAC checks, because I don't work for you! I work for the people of Minnesota!" Nelson-Pallmeyer yields Some had predicted the endorsement battle could go into multiple ballots. It takes 60 percent to secure the party's official blessing, and the groundswell of new support led some in the Nelson-Pallmeyer camp to predict an upset. But, as before the results of the first ballot were released, the professor stepped to the microphone to ask his delegates to throw their support to Al Franken. The crowd dispensed with the written ballots, and instead endorsed him by acclamation with a voice vote from the floor. "You have chosen Al to be our candidate," Nelson-Pallmeyer told them, "To defeat Norm Coleman and I will abide by that decision." Franken, who appeared to be genuinely touched by the gesture, began his acceptance speech with praise for Nelson-Pallmeyer and comforting words for those who had backed him. "You know I'm a Democrat because this is the only party that would have a Jack Nelson Pallmeyer," Franken explained, "This is the only party that would have a man of such compassion and wisdom and energy, such a pure heart, and such a strong soul." Franken attacked Senator Coleman for aligning himself with President George W. Bush through much of his first term in Washington, and for taking money from special interest political action committees or PACs. "We have to take back this government," Franken said, "We have to tell the special interests, you're not so special anymore!" Republicans make Franken the issue The Franken apology seemed to appease at least one of the women's groups at the convention. Many joined him on stage for his victory lap, an the DFL feminist caucus endorsed him as well. Franken told reporters later he felt the controversy was behind him, and urged the media to focus again on the issues facing the nation such as health care, the war, the economy, global warming and the energy crisis. But Republicans made it clear again Saturday that, as far as they're concerned Al Franken himself is the main issue in the upcoming election. "The party activists here, 1300 people, may say yes he's our guy but I don't think most Minnesotans are going to find what he stands for to be very funny," Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey told reporters outside the arena. "I mean Al Franken's positions are about as close to the main stream politically as Pluto is to the sun." It appears Republicans and Coleman will turn the tables and treat Franken as is he's the incumbent with a record to defend. "It's gonna be a tough campaign, a close campaign," Coleman's campaign manager Cullen Sheehan said, "But I think what we've seen in the last few days is a candidate in Al Franken that's unqualified, unfit, and unprepared to be a United States Senator." Although the endorsement clears the way for an expensive and intense Coleman-Franken matchup, they may not be the only senate candidates on the campaign trail this summer and fall. Jesse Ventura has said he's pondering a run as an Independent. And there's already an effort to draft Dean Barkley, the man Ventura sent to the US Senate after Paul Wellstone death in 2002. Even former Democratic rival Mike Ciresi hinted to reporters last week that he'd consider jumping back into the race, and running in the September Democratic primary, depending on how Franken fared at the convention. Franken reminded reporters Saturday that Ciresi had said on many occasions he'd abide by the party's official endorsement, and he expected Ciresi to stick to his word.
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