Jew vs. Jew in Minnesota: Political contests can be fun

WASHINGTON, D.C., FEB. 6 - The 2008 Senate race in Minnesota is already shaping up as one of the most Jewish contests in the country - and possibly one of the funniest.

This week, comedian and talk show host Al Franken announced he is ready to challenge Sen. Norm Coleman, a Republican who faces a voter backlash against the Iraq war.

Six years ago, when he ran for the seat held by the late Sen. Paul Wellstone (Wellstone, also Jewish, died in a plane crash before the election) - the Brooklynborn Coleman faced Democratic charges that he was a carpetbagger.

This time around, he will …