Bad news for Democrats. With Ventura out of the race, Coleman's chances of retaining the seat have gone up considerably. If Minnesota Democrats had nominated a "regular politician" -- someone like Don Ness, but not actually Don Ness himself -- instead of a celebrity, then Coleman would probably be toast. Dems could have played up Coleman's close connections to the Bush White House and made the election a referendum on a potentially toxic incumbent. But Franken makes the race about Franken, not Coleman. Franken's best chance was for Ventura to enter the race, hammer his "pox on both parties" schtick, which cuts much more strongly against Republicans right now, remind people of Coleman's buddy-buddy relationship with Bush, and offer anti-Franken, anti-Bush voters a choice other than Coleman. Alas.

Leave it to Minnesota Democrats to turn what could have been an easy pickup into a nearly sure defeat, where the best chance of victory was getting Jesse Ventura into the race. Now, unless Coleman does a macaca, he keeps his seat.

The Governator was not angling for a job in the Obama administration, he was just answering some "angled" questions from Clintons' whipping boy.

Having said that, I welcome the idea because America needs more politicians who actually think about the issues, and act on their conscience, instead of thinking about how wonderful they are and acting on their reelection bid.