ARTICLE: Comedian Becomes Serious Contender, By Paul Kane, Washington Post, October 25, 2008; Page A01

If Franken gets in, then this is a total Republican defeat. He was suffering in his attempt not too long ago. Obama's coat tails are long.

My guess is that its the unremitting bad economic news that's propelling him, including new, far less rosy predictions for agriculture next year (far lower prices for commodities, and fertilizer costs up 60%).