Ciresi to Enter MN-Sen Race

Minnesota: The Star Tribune is reporting that Mike Ciresi will enter the Senate race in Minnesota:

Attorney Mike Ciresi, most noted for his landmark victory over the tobacco industry, said Sunday that he is forming an exploratory committee for the 2008 Senate race, making him the first DFL candidate in what is expected to be a ferocious contest to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman. ...

In an interview from his Mendota Heights home, Ciresi said Democrats for 2008 should focus not just on health care, education and the environment, but on "rebuilding the middle class."

Commentator Al Franken is in as well, meaning there will likely be a Democratic primary, but Ciresi indicates that it will be a very civil primary:

Franken, Ciresi said, "appears bright, informed and well-intentioned. I have nothing against him. I want to see us concentrate our resources against Norm Coleman."

Franken and Ciresi have very big wallets, so it may keep any additional Democrats from entering. Either way, if they focus on Coleman's failures and keep the tone between them civil, it should be a good primary, battle testing the eventual nominee to take out Coleman.