If Al Franken decides to run for Governor of Minnesota in 2018...?

[kentuck]

... could he win?

The present Governor, Mark Dayton, has decided to step down in 2018, leaving room for a wide-open race.

https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2017/08/minnesota-election-2018-who-s-running

<snip>


After two terms in the governor’s office, Democrat Mark Dayton is stepping down, leaving a wide open field that has plenty of candidates clamoring to get in. On the DFL side, that includes one member of Congress, one state auditor, one big-city mayor and three legislators. For Republicans, several party activists, the former party chairman, one Hennepin County and one Ramsey County commissioner and at least one state legislator have jumped in. House Speaker Kurt Daudt’s name is frequently mentioned in discussions about the race, but he has yet to announce his future plans.

[hlthe2b]

1. I really don't see him wanting to do so, but he's a good campaigner, so maybe

[spooky3]

2. Would love to see this happen.

But he may now be so sickened by politics that he will pursue his activism outside elective office.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. No thanks.

[Kimchijeon]

4. I love him to bits, but he caved to the Lynch mob

And that's a wrap, the end. The time to fight was now.

[NCTraveler]

5. His political career is over, IMO.

Not because of the scandal. This isn’t who Franken is. I think a lot of us fell in love with him because of it. He is brilliant, instinctively progressive, and strangely enough doesn’t seem to give two shits about the spotlight. I truly think the SNL guy would much rather be talking the finer points of legislation, winning over someone like Manchin, over that of being in the spotlight.

I don’t see him being able to play that role now that he has resigned. It’s become about the individual and I think he has made major changes over the decades to become the thoughtful man he is today.

I don’t see him doing much with politics. Franken can be valuable to himself and others by doing something different.

[rockfordfile]

6. I disagree. I think Franken gets even more into politics

[mythology]

7. He has a sub 40% approval rating in Minnesota

He'd have to do a lot of work to rehab his image if he wanted to run for office again.

[kentuck]

9. Is there a link to that poll?

[OnDoutside]

8. I think what happened over the last few weeks will be shown for the fit up that it was, and he will

come back if he wants to. He deserves to.

[MrsMatt]

10. Outstate Minnesota hate him

he'd have a helluva hill to climb to bring in votes outside of the 7 county metro area.

Lots of Trump lovers out there.

[Johonny]

11. I imagine he's done with politics. He doesn't need it.

And he'll go do a podcast and write another book.