A very genuine ad by the Franken campaign

Al Franken, a noted comedian, author and liberal talk show host in his former life, is running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota against incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman, a George Bush rubber stamp who edged out Walter Mondale in the 2002 race. Just weeks before the '02 election, Progressive Sen. Paul Wellstone, the incumbent, was tragically killed in a plane crash. If there's a heaven, Wellstone is certainly looking down from on high, rooting like crazy for Franken to win, thereby giving his old seat back to a Progressive who will keep his values alive.

The Franken campaign's latest political ad features his wife Franni discussing her battle with alcoholism, & it struck me as remarkably genuine, which really makes is stand out against the backdrop of the thousands of fake and contrived political ads we are exposed to in an election cycle.

For those of you who dismiss Franken's candidacy because he used to be a comedian, the joke's on you - Franken's informed, wise, witty, and has run a remarkably honest campaign. I've been following this race pretty closely, and as of right now, Franken is in the lead in some polls, while Coleman holds a slight edge in other polls. Just about every poll I've seen in the past week is within the margin of error, however, so it's anyone's race, without question.

Franken is also being helped by Independent Dean Barkley's candidacy, which is hurting Coleman's chances much more than Franken's; most polls show Barkley with double-digit numbers.

If you have even $5 to contribute, drop by Franken's site and help him out. Every Senate race counts during this election, and Progressives must take advantage of any race where there's an even outside shot of knocking off a Republican incumbent. The Democrats must get to 60 in the Senate to override GOP filibusters and presidential veto threats (if, heaven forbid, McCain wins on Nov. 6).