WASHINGTON (AP) - Comedian Al Franken has decided to run for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota in 2008, challenging incumbent Republican Norm Coleman, a senior Democratic party official said Wednesday. The official, who requested anonymity because Franken has not made an announcement, said the comedian and former star of NBC's "Saturday Night Live" told her of his decision recently.
Andy Barr, political director of Franken's Midwest Values Political Action Committee, declined comment.
The news was not unexpected. Franken has been calling members of the Minnesota congressional delegation for their input on a run and he announced this week he would be leaving his show on Air America Radio on Feb. 14. He told listeners he would be making a decision on a race soon.
Should he win the Democratic primary in Minnesota, Franken would take on Coleman, a first-term senator who is among the Democrats' top targets.
