Posted on 04/13/2007 6:55:45 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Scores of actors, writers, producers and others from the entertainment industry have contributed to Al Franken's Senate campaign, helping the Minnesota Democrat get off to a strong fundraising start.
Franken, a former "Saturday Night Live" star who hopes to take on GOP Sen. Norm Coleman (news, bio, voting record) next year, raised the maximum $4,600 from actors such as Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jason Alexander and Larry David, according to a campaign finance report filed Friday.
That helped Franken pull in $1.35 million in the first quarter of the year — despite not beginning his fundraising effort until Feb. 14 — just behind Coleman's $1.53 million.
Franken has held two fundraisers in California this year — one in Los Angeles and one in California, said his spokesman, Andy Barr.
Other notable contributors include actors Kevin Bacon and Kevin Kline; producers James L. Brooks and Norman Lear; directors Rob Reiner and Jonathan Demme; singers Don Henley and Bonnie Raitt; and actress Jane Curtain.
He also picked up donations from cartoonist Garry Trudeau, Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, comedian Bill Maher, Dream Works Studios CEO David Geffen and former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro.
As if to pre-empt expected GOP criticism that Franken was raising "Hollywood money," his campaign put out a statement noting it had pulled in money from every state, and had more donors from Minnesota than any other state.
"Al's been speaking out on important national issues and campaigning on behalf of Democrats across the country for years now, and we're lucky to have support from over ten thousand donors and from every single state," the statement said.
Coleman's campaign said that 73 percent of its contributors came from Minnesota.
"With such a high percentage of Minnesota donors we not only get their financial support, but these people are instrumental in building our grass roots infrastructure," Coleman campaign manager Cullen Sheehan said in a statement. Coleman is considered one of the GOP's most vulnerable incumbents.
On an appearance on CNN Friday, Coleman said he's taking Franken's campaign seriously.
"He's raised 1.3 million, he's rich enough that he doesn't have to work," Coleman said. "He can campaign full-time for the next 20 months. That's not a joke. And I hope we will have a serious discussion at some point in time."
Meanwhile, another Democratic candidate, attorney Mike Ciresi, is nailing down arrangements for an expected U.S. Senate campaign kickoff next week.
Ciresi is best known for securing a multibillion dollar settlement against the tobacco industry on behalf of the Minnesota government. Ciresi put nearly $5 million of his own money into a 2000 U.S. Senate race, which ended with a primary campaign loss.
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Associated Press writer Brian Bakst in St. Paul, Minn., contributed to this report.
The question is “How dumb are Minnesotans?”
Some Mineasoootan, please post Norm Colemans info and I’ll make sure to send him a donation
The question is “How dumb are Minnesotans?”
Two words:
Jesse Ventura. ;)
Jane Curtain?
They would do as well to burn their money..
Oh, crud! I have a bottle of Paul Newman’s “Vodka Sauce” in the cupboard, awaiting some cooked pasta.
What would be the best method of ridding myself of it? Your parameters are ‘most damage to ‘Rat property per square inch.’ ;)
They likely didn’t have to really work for their fortunes, don’t have to stress over self-defense as they have their own armed security (like politikos), and certainly have their own protection for their homes (like in multiple) and families.
So, the way I see it, they are just trying to protect their collective life-styles. In some lands, is a privilege of the very few, but so far in the US, is one of many as there is still a lot of wealth to go around, at least for now, because sooner or later it will all get snorted!
Just as Coleman got beat out for the Governorship by Ventura, he will get beat out of the Senate by the lunatic Franken....
Are you surprised? Paul Newman has been publically contributing to left wing causes for quite a few decades.
These guys will be added to my list of people I will not patronize! Hit them where it hurts!
I left for good over 25 years ago, still have a big chunk of family there in the lake country. Most vote sanely, Thank You, well considering the choices anyway. ;-)
Minnesota is now the premiere socialist state if I’m not mistaken, tax and benefit-wise, not sure why.. the water?
It had been a seeding bed for the DFL party years ago, but it also was a much more lucid one than we witness today.
Oh, crud! I have a bottle of Paul Newman’s “Vodka Sauce” in the cupboard, awaiting some cooked pasta.
—
LOL.. use it and enjoy it..
“tom Hanks”
How can such a brilliant actor be so completely stupid?
No, not really. His daughter, who runs his food business, is a total Organic Granola Crunching Eco-Warrior.
It’s only in my cupboard because I didn’t specify to Husband (who did the shopping last week) which brand to buy. He liked the label, LOL!
So...did you have a creative way for me to use it up while making a political statement? ;)
Ouch...
Given that this is an AP story what I am about to write will sound too obvious for comment, but this “story” reads more like a Franken Campaign press release than a legitimate news story (as we used to know them).
It’s all about PR these days, you’re not far off the mark, at all.
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