Sabato: Minnesota’s Senate race leans GOP

University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato is now rating Minnesota's Senate race as "Leans GOP." In his weekly crystal ball, Sabato writes:

Minnesota: Here's a state that still leans Democratic but overall can be unpredictable politically. Six years ago, Republican Norm Coleman won a narrow victory over former Vice President Walter Mondale (D), the substitute nominee after the tragic death of Senator Paul Wellstone (D) in a plane crash. Coleman is beatable in 2008, but it's far from certain that either of the two likely Democratic nominees, comedian Al Franken or the wealthy Mike Ceresi, can do it. For now, Coleman continues to work his state hard, and we'll call it LEANS REPUBLICAN.

NOTE - Sabato mispelled Mike Ciresi's name above - not me

You can get more background on Minnesota's Senate race here. Sabato rated the race as a "toss-up" in May. Are these rating significant? Will they change over the next eleven months?

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