Sunday, May 04, 2008

KSTP-TV, ABC 5, St. Paul, Minn.

Election day is exactly six months from Sunday and Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race will be one of the most closely watched in the nation.

DFL candidate Al Franken jumpstarted his campaign with a rally the day before Republican Norm Coleman officially announced his reelection bid. Since then, headlines have not been kind to Franken. First, a $25,000 fine for not paying workers’ compensation insurance in New York. Then he revealed he is paying $70,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest to 17 states.

In the latest SurveyUSA poll about Franken’s tax troubles, 500 people were polled.

Of those people, 59 percent said the recent troubles made them less likely to support Franken and 31 percent said it made no difference.

When asked whether Franken should withdraw from the race, 51 percent said he should withdraw while 38 said he should stay in the race.