Jacobs, LawrenceMiller, Joanne M.2018-03-272018-03-272008-10-08https://hdl.handle.net/11299/194910According to two Minnesota Public Radio News and Humphrey Institute polls, Republican U.S. Senator Norm Coleman’s 9 point lead over Democrat Al Franken and Independence Party candidate Dean Barkely was neutralized by the extraordinary financial crisis and the resulting congressional response along with the polarizing reaction to the Vice Presidential debate on October 2nd. In the three days before October 2nd, Coleman enjoyed a 9 point lead (40 percent versus 31 percent for Franken and 14 percent for Barkley); in the three days after October 2nd, which included congressional enactment of the $700 billion financial rescue on October 3rd and the polarizing reaction to the Vice Presidential debate, Franken took a 4 point lead (41 percent versus 37 percent for Coleman and 14 percent for Barkely). Franken’s edge was within the margin of error of 4.8 points; the race should be considered a statistical toss-up.enU.S. SenateVice Presidential debateReport