Franken, Shaheen Win Democratic Senate Nominations

Former "Saturday Night Live" star and author Al Franken captured the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Minnesota on Tuesday and will go up against incumbent Republican Norm Coleman on November 4.

Franken won the Democratic primary with 65 percent of the vote with his closest challenger, attorney Priscilla Lord Faris, garnering only 30 percent. This sets up the showdown with Coleman that Franken has been talking about for a long time -- and this will be a good one to watch.

"Norm Coleman has become Washington," Franken said. "He's the Washington guy and I'm going to be fighting for Minnesotans."

Coleman has been ahead in most polls this year but that could change now that the campaign is more focused and Minnesota voters can begin seeing Franken define exactly how little Coleman has done for them in the last six years.

This Franken campaign ad is a good start:



In other primaries, former Governor Jeanne Shaheen was easily chosen as the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire, setting up a rematch of her 2002 race against Republican John Sununu.