MINNEAPOLIS — The comedian's opening act warmed up the crowd, whose laughter echoed inside the cavernous lobby of the University of Minnesota's McNamara Alumni Center. Then the headliner stepped onto the stage, took the microphone in hand . . . and didn't tell a joke.
Lately, Minnesotans have been seeing a more serious side of comedian Al Franken, one of the original writers for "Saturday Night Live" and author of the book "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot." Nearly two years ago, Franken moved back here to his childhood home and launched his Democratic campaign to unseat Republican Sen. Norm Coleman.
At first many were unsure whether to take him seriously, and few gave him much of a chance. Indeed, polls last spring showed Coleman leading by as much as 22 points.
But now, Franken has pulled slightly ahead of Coleman, and the two are embroiled in one of the most prominent and expensive Senate races of this election season.
The candidates themselves have spent more than $30 million combined on their runs for the seat -- paying for ads that paint Coleman as a flip-flopper on issues and a strong fan of President Bush and that portray Franken as an inexperienced candidate with questionable tax problems and a penchant for vulgar satire.
Millions more has been spent on political advertising by their national parties, which also has encouraged a string of high-profile figures to come out and support either Coleman (Bush, former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani) or Franken (former Vice President Al Gore, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton).
Even Garrison Keillor, host of "A Prairie Home Companion," has jumped into the mix: He has a Franken campaign sign on his front lawn in St. Paul and has given his friend political advice.
All this comes at a time when Democrats, who have a bare majority in the Senate, hope to pick up enough seats Nov. 4 to be able to prevent Republican filibusters. Thirty-five seats are up for grabs -- 23 of them held by Republicans -- and Democrats need to gain nine to reach a filibuster-proof majority of 60.
"The Democrats want to get to 60 seats, and they can't get there without Al Franken winning," said Mary-Sarah Kinner, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
"Out of all the Senate races, everyone agrees that the Minnesota seat is one everyone wants."
Neither party's senatorial candidate has had a smooth run-up to election day.
