More bad news. However, it is not surprising as he is the incumbent. Minnesota just needs to put up a conservative (complete opposite of Franken) and the Republican will win. If they put up a Franken lite then Minnesota will say why change to someone the same. Your choice Minnesota.
The GOP has had nearly 5 years to vet and promote a strong candidate for this seat which should be vulnerable. If the GOP were truly interested in becoming the majority party, the RNC would have targeted Franken from day one and he would be sweating today.
This is shaping up to be a replay of Florida in 2012. Nelson was a weak incumbent who was vulnerable. The Republican establishment put up Connie Mack who thought he would win because his father had been the Senator prior to Nelson. Mack ran a pathetic campaign and Nelson coasted to victory. The same thing may happen in 2012 in North Carolina where Kay Hagen should be vulnerable but where is the strong Republican candidate.
Majority parties are aggressive in going after potentially beatable incumbents. Minority parties put up whoever is next in line and are satisfied whether they win or lose.
Conservatives also need to agree on who that candidate will be. The non-strategy of having multiple “perfect” candidates (that is, each one perfect to his group of supporters) means that they and their supporters spend all their time attacking each other and no time at all attacking the Dem. It also means that the GOP-e will cruise in with its own candidate (who will inevitably lose to the Dem) because the fragmented conservative groups don’t have a united front and enough clout to make a difference. This has happened time and again.
HA! This will happen in the latest state to join the gay marriage parade??? Dream on.