Minnesota is a key state in determining the make up of the US Senate this year. Incumbemt Norm Coleman is mired in several scandals for taking gifts, favors and vacations from lobbyists (explicitly against Senate ethics rules). His opponent, Al Franken, impressed me on Air America radio as he discussed Bush lies, the failed Iraq quagmire, the un-Patriot Act, and the like with people as diverse as Howard Dean, John Kerry, Bob Barr, G. Gordon Liddy and Pat Buchanan. Franken knows his stuff and was capable of having excellent discussions with liberals and conservatives, Democrats, Republicans and Independents.

Now Franken is running for Senate and has a good shot at winning against a typical corrupt Bush Republican. Norm Coleman, dogged by scandals and having nothing to offer but failed Bush policies, is neck and neck with Al Franken, offering an economic recovery plan for working families and a genuine energy plan for America.

Here is An Economic Recovery Plan For Minnesota Families

Here is Al Franken speaking on energy policy:

Al Franken has been endorsed by Al Gore, Saint Paul Firefighters, IAFF Local 21, the League of Conservation Voters, National Farmers Union PAC, Minnesota State Council of Machinists, Planned Parenthood, Minnesota Nurses Association, Minnesota AFL-CIO, Council for a Livable World, Tribal Chair Erma Vizenor (Ojibwe Band), Steelworkers District 11, Steelworkers Local 1938, Steelworkers Local 2705 and many others.

And find out about Norm Coleman's poor job in holding government accountable:

And, of course, Norm Coleman is mired in several scandals.

Scandal number one is a violation of the Senate Ethics rules. Seems that Norm Coleman's Washington, DC home is rented to him at well below market value by fellow member of the Republican Culture of Corruption, Jeff Larson. And when I mean rented at well below market value, I mean when Coleman even bothers to pay his rent. Larson generally lets Coleman skip his rent, basically giving him free lodgings. Now this COULD be just kindness on Larson's part, except it directly violates the Senate ethics rules regarding gifts.

But Coleman's violations of the Senate Ethics rules goes even further. Coleman basically receives vacations to the Bahamas and Paris, suits and other goodies from Minnesota businessman Nasser Kazeminy. And just who is Norm Coleman's wonderful patron? You guessed it. He's a government contractor. Norm Coleman is receiving gifts from someone whose company gets government contracts. This kind of thing is frowned upon in any political position, but it is an outright violation of the ethics rules for Senators. Coleman, of course, is denying any wrongdoing, but let's remember that when a Democrat, Senator Bob Torricelli of New Jersey, did the exact same thing, he was reprimanded by the Senate Select Committee on Ethics and retired. Funny how the Democratic Party actually fights corruption within its ranks while Republicans circle the wagons and defend even their most corrupt members.

Here are a couple of powerful videos from Al Franken's website showing how people view Norm Coleman.

First, Iraq War vet Sam Scott calls Norm Coleman's attacks "the same old shameful Washington politics" and tells Minnesotans why he's proud to stand with Al Franken.

Next, after the Star Tribune and KSTP-TV blasted ads from the Coleman campaign and the National Republican Senatorial Committee as false and misleading, the Al Franken for Senate campaign today released a new television ad featuring Minnesota women expressing their disgust and outrage at the depths to which Norm Coleman has sunk.

Norm Coleman: just another shameful Bush Republican who stoops to corruption, lies and smears.

Al Franken: new, smart ideas and an ability to talk with conservatives and liberals alike.

The voters will decide tomorrow.