2008 U.S. Senate Candidate Forum with Al Franken

An Economy that Works for the Middle Class The Center for the Study of Politics and Governance hosted a series of public forums with the major party candidates for Minnesota's U.S. Senate seat to foster informed and substantive discussion of important matters of public policy. The forums created an opportunity for the candidates to rise above the talking points and fractious back-and-forth of the campaign to address the important policy challenges facing Minnesota and the country. It also created a forum for students and citizens to listen and raise questions with the candidates. Al Franken was raised in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Franken attended Harvard University and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree. Franken's performing career began in high school and at Dudley Riggs's Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis. He was recruited as an original writer (and occasional performer) on Saturday Night Live from 1975 to 1980 and again from 1985 to 1995. Franken was awarded five Emmy awards and seven nominations for his work on the show. Franken has written five New York Times bestselling books, three of which reached number one. In 2003, Franken served as a Fellow with Harvard's Kennedy School of Government at the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy. From 2004 - 2007, Franken was a talk show host for Air America Radio. During that time Franken moved back to Minnesota and started the Midwest Values PAC, which raises money for Democrats across Minnesota and around the country. He made more than 50 appearances on behalf of DFLers and local party units in the state in 2006. Franken has also visited the troops overseas with the USO seven times and been to Iraq four times. Franken announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate in 2007 and was endorsed by the DFL in June 2008