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Capitol View®
Catharine Richert

Franken super PACs emerge on both sides

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Sen. Al Franken will be getting some opposition and some help from two super PACs this year.

On the right is the Heartland Campaign Fund, which was organized this week by Greg Johnson, a long-time Republican operative and principle at Weber Johnson Public Affairs.

"Minnesota voters have an important decision to make on the re-election of Al Franken," Johnson said in an email. "The Heartland Campaign Fund intends to engage in a dialogue with voters over the course of the election year.”

There are several Republicans looking to unseat Franken, including businessman Mike McFadden, state Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, state Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka and St. Louis County Commissioner Chris Dahlberg.

Meanwhile, WIN Minnesota, an organization that has previously focused on raising money for local DFL candidates, created the WIN Minnesota Federal PAC.

Already, the group has raised $357,000 to help Franken win. Some of those funds may be spent on 8th Congressional District Rep. Rick Nolan as well, said Adam Duininck who serves as the group's treasurer.

Some of WIN Minnesota's money has come from long-time and well-known Franken supporters, including liberal HBO talk show host Bill Maher who gave $5,000, comedian James Belushi who gave $5,000, and Jason Alexander (who is listed on the forms by his real name, Jay Greenspan) who gave $2,000.

However, the The bulk of WIN Minnesota's PAC cash has come from unions, including $40,000 from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and $50,000 from Education Minnesota.