Coleman goes after Franken in web ad (again)

Norm Coleman's senate campaign released another web video attacking DFL senate hopeful Al Franken. The ad is similar to a previous ad, using Franken's own words to show that he's unfit for office. Here's the Coleman camp's reasoning behind the ad:

With Al Franken running TV ads that gloss over the less-than-flattering parts of his career, the Coleman for Senate campaign today released a new webvideo to show the voters of Minnesota what Franken doesn't want them to see. "Things You Won't See In An Al Franken Ad" features Franken's extensive history of tasteless comedy and divisive partisan rhetoric.

"Despite Franken's latest attempts to repackage himself as a kinder, gentler candidate, Al Franken can't hide who he really is," said campaign manager Cullen Sheehan. "No matter how much of his Hollywood money he spends on TV ads, Al Franken won't be able to sweep his record of over-the-top partisan attacks and offensive remarks under the rug,"

Franken's campaign didn't respond to the Coleman ad but officials with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee did with this statement:

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Norm Coleman launched his 2008 campaign today with a bitter negative ad attacking DFL primary candidate Al Franken. Both Franken and Mike Ciresi released ads in the past two weeks promoting their vision for the future, and Coleman's negative reaction video shows that instead of offering his ideas, he plans to wage the type of slash and burn campaign that has been rejected by Minnesotans in the past.

"It is a sign of desperation that when both Democratic candidates for Senate are on the air with positive commercials about their visions for the future, Norm Coleman has decided to launch the first negative attack ad of 2008," DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said. "Norm Coleman doesn't have a plan to lower health care costs, change direction in Iraq, or address Minnesotans' economic concerns, so instead he's launching bitter attacks five months before a Democratic nominee has even been chosen. It's sad that after five years in the Senate, the only thing Norm Coleman has to offer the voters of Minnesota are harsh personal attacks against Democrats instead of his own vision for the future."

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Is there anyone out there who thinks this race won't be intense? Franken and fellow DFLer Mike Ciresi both have ads running on local tv. Watch the Franken ads here. Watch the Ciresi ads here.

When will Coleman hit the real airwaves and will those ads be as hard hitting as his web videos?

Discuss...