Readers weigh in on the Senate race

Supporting Dean Barkley Dean Barkley's candidacy brings a breath of fresh air. If we always do what we always did, we will continue to get what we always got. The issues facing our nation are too great not to bring a fresh opinion and approach to the bargaining table. Electing Dean Barkley to the U.S. Senate will be a much-needed wake-up call to Washington.

RON LISCHEID, MINNEAPOLIS

Al Franken for Senate I want Barack Obama to have a majority Congress to work with. It's the only thing that will eliminate the stagnation of progress in our federal government. Al Franken is highly intelligent and passionate. He has clearly stated his goals for this country in the areas of energy, Social Security reform and veterans' benefits, to name just a few. His intellect and passion are what our Senate needs.

COREY SEVETT, MINNEAPOLIS

With respect Let me first say that all three Senate candidates are worthy of the job. I will vote for Franken because I believe we need to change direction from the supply-side economics that subsidize the wealthy. I also think he is more likely to pursue health care and education solutions. Barkley would do a good job as senator, and I could not blame anyone for voting for Norm Coleman. I will vote for Franken.

BRUCE BLEVINS, FALCON HEIGHTS

Coleman will help stem the tide Norm Coleman will vote against Barack Obama about 90 percent of the time. Franken, on the other hand, will vote left every single time. Norm will also be one of the precious 41 needed to prevent a headlong rush to a socialistic nanny state that will see corporations moving their headquarters out of the country so fast you guys will run out of ink trying to list them all. Plus, Franken supports vote suppression in union elections. I listened to Al occasionally for the same reason I read your paper -- I need to know how the other side thinks. What a pathetic excuse for entertainment. The interviews were canned, the talk afterwards was vulgar. His guests would routinely make some really snide remark, Al would agree or make another one in kind, followed immediately by "oh, no, we can't really say that." Day after day he revealed his true hate for all Republicans with these nasty little asides. Note that I said hate for Republicans, not their political ideas. His diatribe in the commercial is the true Al. Top that off with the complete lack of success at his show, whether you measure by listeners or revenue, and you see what a small man he is.

In the Wellstone tradition Franken is a passionate advocate for working-class families and for Minnesota in general. He listens to people and then translates that into action. We need Al in Washington to return Minnesota to the Wellstone tradition.

DAVE MINDEMAN, APPLE VALLEY

Generation X for Dean Barkley I was in elementary school when our country faced its last energy crisis. In junior high, I learned if something wasn't done my generation would not collect Social Security. During high school, I broke my leg and became aware of the emerging health crisis when the ER nurse informed me that without an insurance card I would need a credit card to be treated. I am now a 39-year-old mother of two, and our leadership over the past 30 years has done nothing to address these major issues. Dean Barkley has my vote. As an independent, Barkley will be a tiebreaker not bound by the two national-party agendas.

LAURA KNUDSEN, ALEXANDRIA, MINN.

An independent-minded Franken This country has seriously taken a wrong turn with this administration. My feeling is that Norm Coleman is not truly his own man. He's a party man. I think Franken will be independent enough and will work to make things better for all Minnesotans -- and for all U.S. citizens.