So now that former Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) finally conceded the much-litigated 2008 Senate race to Democrat Al Franken, and Franken was sworn into office six months into the term, does Coleman have a political future as he reportedly eyes a run for Governor in 2010? A new survey of Minnesota by Public Policy Polling (D) suggests that Coleman has still got a long way to go if he wants to come back.
The numbers: Coleman’s favorable rating is only 38%, with 52% viewing him unfavorably. Coleman was also tested in potential general elections against former one-term U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, state House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. Dayton edges Coleman out 41%-39%, Rybak leads 43%-37%, and Coleman leads Kelliher 42%-34%, with a ±2.5% margin of error.
This question is also pretty rough: “Did the way Norm Coleman handled the recount in his Senate race make you more or less likely to support him in a future campaign for Governor or some other office?” The numbers: More likely 26%, less likely 54%, and no difference 20%.
From the pollster’s analysis: “You have to wonder how much more goodwill he would have been able to earn with voters in the state if he had decided to take the high road and concede six months ago.”
