I just finished live blogging on THEUPTAKE the Franken/Coleman/Barkley debate. It seems to me that Al did great. He tied Norm into Bush policies, illustrated that Norm talks differently than he votes, and presented himself as competent, clear, and forthright.
Good thing! - From the ground here in Rochester Minnesota, it looks like he needs a boost. Franken is polling better recently, especially since negative ads have been driving people to a 3rd party candidate, but his support seems soft. When I talk with people, even democrats, they mention Franken's 'tax problem' and his being a comedian before talking about the issues. Democrats in District 1 (southern Minnesota) have many more lawn signs for Obama and Walz, than they have Franken signs.
The ads here have been as crass and negative as any I've ever seen -and I spent most of my voting life in NJ
More below fold including example of Coleman attack ad
UPDATED with Al loves Puppies Dem response to Coleman
I think the negative ads have begun having the effect of turning voters away. The third party candidate Barkely (who was briefly appointed by Ventura to fill Paul Wellstone's seat) thanked the candidates during the debate for their negative ads because it is fueling his candidacy. My sense is that people are seeing the Coleman ads as more negative. That's certainly how it looks to my blue democratic eyes.
Al stepped above the negative fray some with a good statement in the debate (I paraphrase as I don't have the transcript yet) "people ask me about the very negative attack ads "how can you take it". People all over Minnesota are taking hits - I'll be proud to take those hits if it will help me to help Minnesotans."
Below I've embedded an example of some of the negative themes being thrown by Coleman LETS GO AL
We need 60.
https://secure.alfranken.com/... - Al's donation page