Minneapolis Star Tribune

Count this newspaper among the Minnesota voices that long for a lessening of partisan polarization and a return to constructive problem-solving in Washington. If demonization of the partisan opposition continues to be the political coin of this realm, effectiveness of American democracy will be diminished.

Independent judgment, exercised on behalf of the best interests of the country and state, is what we hope to see from our U.S. senators. With that hope in mind, this newspaper recommends the reelection of Republican U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman.

The more independent, pragmatic Coleman emerged when he helped speed money to Minneapolis for a new Interstate 35W bridge; when he promoted tax credits for renewable energy investment; when he pushed for larger Pell Grants for needy college students; when he stood up to President Bush on extending publicly subsidized health insurance, including MinnesotaCare, to more poor children and their parents.

He showed good judgment most recently when, despite a tide of constituent opposition, he voted to authorize spending $700 billion to inject capital into banks and thaw a credit freeze. He rightly judged that quick action was needed to avert serious damage to the nation's economy.

St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota is fortunate to have three strong candidates vying for the U.S. Senate this year: Norm Coleman, the incumbent Republican; Al Franken, the Demo-cratic-Farmer-Labor challenger; and Dean Barkley, the longtime third-party activist who briefly held the seat in 2002.

We endorse Coleman for a second term, and we want it understood that we are endorsing the "work-across-the-aisle" candidate that he presented to voters. The country will need voices of moderation and unity, particularly as we extricate ourselves from Iraq, and we expect Coleman to deliver on this promise.

We are not blind to Coleman's faults or to the talents of Franken and Barkley. We do not agree with either party's approach to every issue. We know there are those who will vote based purely on those issues or on party allegiance. You don't need our help to do that. We try to get away from the scorecard and look at the candidates in full.

On that basis, we see Coleman as a gifted politician who could help forge a new national consensus without abandoning his conservative principles.

We know him well. He distinguished himself as an energetic, tireless, non-ideological mayor of our city from 1994 to 2002. He was responsible for a coming-together of business and political leaders that put St. Paul first and, yes, brought the National Hockey League back to its rightful "state of hockey.''

Mesabi Daily News

We firmly believe the most important issue this election campaign for the Iron Range is which candidates for state and federal office will work the hardest, and without giving an inch to certain environmental special interest groups, when it comes to helping pave the way for jobs in the region.

U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman has a proven six-year record of working hard in a bipartisan manner for economic development projects in the state and on the Iron Range. We have been especially pleased to see the harmonious working relationship between Minnesota political party Senate opposites Republican Coleman and Democrat Amy Klobuchar for the betterment of the state. That speaks well of both.

Marshall Independent

In breaking with our policy on endorsing political candidates, the Independent will endorse a candidate in the U.S. Senate race. The race is tight, and this election year, it's important to make good choices at the poll.

The Independent endorses Sen. Norm Coleman as the choice to return to the U.S. Senate and represent Minnesota.

Fairmont Sentinel

In the race for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, one candidate is head and shoulders above the rest. That candidate is Norm Coleman, a Republican who is completing his first term.

Coleman is competent, experienced and bipartisan. He has worked across the aisle on issues such as energy - as a member of the Gang of 20 - and yet he has remained his own man on matters of principle. He supported the Bush tax cuts, he has fought against a timetable for withdrawal in Iraq and he has acted to curb abuses at the United Nations.

Coleman does not have his head in the clouds. He has not draped himself in Washington power. He has been a consistent advocate on rural development, transportation and alternative energy; all important issues in his home state. People often say they want their representatives to work together - regardless of party - to get things done. That is what Norm Coleman has done.

Fargo Forum

Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., has earned a second term in the U.S. Senate. The moderate Republican has demonstrated the ability to reach across the political aisle and remain true to his core principles. His opponent, Democrat Al Franken, is a sincere, intelligent candidate but embraces a style of hard-edged liberalism that would hamstring his effectiveness as a senator.

ECM Newspapers

Americans badly want a change in the direction of this country. They yearn for stability in the financial markets and they worry about their own personal finances, retirement, jobs and health care.

They are hungry for leadership that will skillfully, diplomatically and intelligently help them survive an unraveling economy, an unpopular war, a drifting energy policy, higher health care costs and a different strategy to fight terrorism.

This November Minnesotans will elect their U.S. Senator for the next six years. Three men are running for that office now held by Sen. Norm Coleman. Challenging him are Al Franken, endorsed by the Minnesota DFL Party, and Dean Barkley, endorsed by the Minnesota Independence Party.

The ECM Publishers Editorial Board has interviewed all three candidates personally. The board concluded that any of the three men are well qualified to be Minnesota’s U.S. senator. Its decision is to endorse Sen. Coleman for re-election.
 

New Ulm Journal

In his first term, Minnesota's Sen. Norm Coleman has followed in the tradition of those who have served in the Senate before him. His philosophy may be politically different from the happy liberalism of DFLers Hubert Humphrey, Fritz Mondale and Paul Wellstone, but like all of them, and like Republican David Durenberger, he is a serious senator, a dedicated public servant and a smart, competent legislator.

Albert Lea Tribune

It is one thing to rise within the structure of Minnesota politics and then run for Senate. It is another to be a celebrity and then run for Senate.

Republican incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman was the mayor of St. Paul before running for Senate. He knows Minnesota. Comedian challenger Al Franken definitely is familiar with American politics — he has authored best-selling books — but we doubt whether he is familiar enough with Minnesotans.

Franken indeed grew up in Minnesota and even for a time in Albert Lea. We like that about him.

But we doubt whether Franken would be in the state if it weren’t for his national political aspirations. We suggest he run for local offices before he shoots for the Senate.

McLeod County Chronicle

But the state race with the most attention, and funds, is for the U.S. Senate seat held by U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn. He is being challenged by comedian-turned-politician Al Franken, a Democrat, and former U.S. Sen. Dean Barkley, I-Minn.

From whom Barkley takes votes may determine who wins. Heck, Barkley could even win in an unpredictable three-way race. Minnesotans have been known to be unpredictable at times.

We like Coleman and his experience in the Senate. While his voting record does not indicate his self-proclaimed bipartisan leaning, he is a better option than Franken. We had one Mark Dayton, we don't need another representing Minnesota if Franken wins.
 

Rochester Post-Bulletin

We endorse Sen. Norm Coleman for another term in the U.S. Senate. We applaud his opposition to drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, and we admire the fact that he's played a key role in creating a new national energy policy. We also are impressed with his efforts to make sure that Minnesota's soldiers have all the help they need when they return from service overseas.

In a second term, however, we expect more from Coleman. In our interview with him, we saw a quieter man, a somewhat humbler Norm Coleman than we'd seen before. One who declared that our current crisis demands leaders who put ideology aside to get things done.

He needs to act on that principal. He told us "Health care is a right," and he needs to pursue legislation to make it happen. He told us he opposes unfunded mandates for education, so we expect him to be a major player in a much-needed overhaul of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Coleman has had six years to figure out what's wrong with Washington. There's no reason he can't play a key role in fixing it.

Bemidji Pioneer

Minnesota prides itself by providing to the U.S. Senate representatives who are thoughtful, hard working and who bring a vision of diverse views from the state to the nation’s capital. U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman has shown he fits that bill well, and deserves a second term in the U.S. Senate.

Sen. Coleman brings leadership to the Senate, speaking from the podium as one of America’s most successful mayors. As a Republican, we would expect him to follow that party’s game plan, but he knows Minnesota well enough to depart from that plan when it’s in the state’s best interest — notably in steadfastly refusing to support drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and in overriding twice vetoes by President Bush on the 2002 Farm Bill, which is so important to Minnesota farmers. He’s also taken a different path on the war in Iraq, not seeking an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops but by hounding the administration to pressure the Iraqis to take control of their own country — soon — so that troop withdrawal can begin.

International Falls Daily Journal

Norm Coleman is the best candidate for U.S. Senate. Borderland may be a long way from Washington, but Coleman knows how to get here. Among the reasons he should be reelected is that he knows us, and we know him. Coleman has visited Borderland many times in an effort to understand this area’s needs. Likewise, he’s been approachable by Borderland residents and shows by his actions in Washington that he is listening to our concerns. Few others in Washington know the struggles that come with living along the border. Coleman has worked hard to understand those issues, including the impact on area residents of requiring passports to enter the U.S. His tireless efforts have ensured that the implementation of those rules will be as smooth as possible.
 

West Central Tribune

Coon Rapids Herald

Anoka County Union

Blaine-Spring Lake Park Life

Caledonia Argus

Dakota County Tribune

ECM Post Review

Forest Lake Times

Isanti County News

Elk River Star News

Apple Valley ThisWeek

Burnsville ThisWeek

Eagan ThisWeek

Farmington ThisWeek

Lakeville ThisWeek

Rosemount ThisWeek

Alexandria Echo Press

Grand Forks Herald

Lake Elmo Leader

Morris Sun Tribune

Park Rapids Enterprise

Osakis Review

Stillwater Courier

Woodbury Bulletin

Worthington Daily Globe

Duluth News Tribune

Success or failure in Washington often hinges on an ability to cooperate, compromise and work together — not only with members of one’s own party but also across the aisle.

Which candidate for U.S. Senate from Minnesota has the best chance of accomplishing that?

Surely it’s incumbent Norm Coleman, a Republican with Democratic roots, a moderate who has been able to remain true to his core principals, and a politician whose votes in 2006 on major economic, social and foreign policy issues split nearly evenly liberal and conservative. That’s about as representative of Minnesota as it gets.

Effectiveness in office certainly would seem more of a challenge for Democrat Al Franken, a hard-edged liberal whose fast-selling books lambasting the Bush Administration and the Republican right make him an instant turnoff to many inside and outside the Beltway.