Michelle Malkin notes that Al Franken, the premier host of the dying Air America talk-radio network, will move back to Minnesota and broadcast his national show from the Twin Cities. Franken has lived in New York for decades, but returns to the Land of 10,000 Lakes for a particular purpose:

Radio host Al Franken, who is mulling a run against Republican Senator Norm Coleman in 2008, has purchased a town house on the edge of downtown Minneapolis and will establish residency in Minnesota.

"It's one of the things I need to do if I decide to make a run," Franken said from his current home in New York. "I haven't made the decision yet, but if I do, I'll have to have been living in Minnesota a while."

Franken might also want to make a run for the seat that Mark Dayton will vacate at the end of next year, hoping to retain the office for the Democrats by lending his star power, such as it is, to the effort. Could he be successful? Possibly; he certainly has a following in the Metro area, although his fan base probably represents that tiny minority that think titling a book with a reference to Rush Limbaugh's weight constitutes humor and including three variants of the work "lie" in another title constitutes biting political analysis. Oh, and let's not forget the massive packs of Stuart Smalley enthusiasts, too.

Of course, the same could have been said about Ronald Reagan and Bedtime For Bonzo (and often was). What counts in a political career is an ability to get one's thoughts and philosophy across in political settings and create a likable and open image with which people can relate. Fortunately, I have some experience with Al's ability to do just that from his time at the Republican National Convention last year. Here's Al working the room in Radio Row:

And here's Al disengaging from political debate before Security disengages him from the convention (note the quick work of Franken's staffers):

Nor was this a singular approach in Franken's political outreach. One should recall the incident in which Franken expressed his support for First Amendment rights by blindsiding a protestor at a Howard Dean rally, claiming that the demonstration infringed on Dean's civil rights.

If that's the kind of politics that Franken wants to bring to Minnesotans and to the DFL in this state, we welcome him to the 2006 Senate campaign, or 2008 when Norm Coleman runs again. We'll be here to document the even-keeled temperament and the dedication to open debate that Franken embodies during any or all campaigns in which he stomps runs.

UPDATE: Thanks to CQ reader RBMN for a link to the NY Post story.

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