Franken favored in 7-way race
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Entertainment and politics collide today as former “Saturday Night Live” comedian Al Franken tries to secure the Democratic nomination for U. S. Senate from Minnesota and an original “Real World” cast member runs for Congress in New York.
Franken, who has raised and spent millions in his political debut, is favored in a seven-way Democratic primary. The winner advances to a fall contest almost certain to include Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, whose only GOP opponent lives in Italy, and a candidate from the Independence Party.
In New York, two congressional primaries are in the spotlight. One features writer Kevin Powell, a cast member in the inaugural season of MTV’s “Real World,” who is trying to upend 13-term incumbent Edolphus Towns in Brooklyn.
On Staten Island, both Republicans and Democrats are angling to replace GOP Rep. Vito J. Fossella Jr., who announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election after a drunken driving arrest led to the disclosure that he had fathered a child with a woman who was not his wife.
Steve Harrison and Michael McMahon face each other in the Democratic race. On the Republican side, several top-tier candidates declined to run, and the man the party eventually settled on died unexpectedly. That left a contest between former Assemblyman Bob Straniere and Dr. Jamshad Wyne.
Other states with primary contests include:
• Wisconsin — Four of the state’s eight congressional districts have primaries, but only one incumbent — Republican F. James Sensenbrenner— faces a challenge.
• Delaware — In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Lt.Gov. John C. Carney Jr. has the support of the party establishment. But State Treasurer Jack Markell has outpaced him in fundraising.
• Vermont — The state’s lone House member — Rep. Peter F. Welch— faces a Democratic primary challenge from Craig Hill of Montpelier.
• Rhode Island — Sen. Jack Reed is in a Democratic primary contest with perennial hopeful Christopher Young.
