Coleman May Have Shot as Governor

As if Minnesota politics needed another twist: Tim Pawlenty's announcement that he won't seek a third term as governor has all eyes on Norm Coleman as a potential successor, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Because he's still locked in a legal fight with Al Franken over a Senate seat, Coleman can't express interest, but many political observers see his name as the one that would dominate the race.

One influential conservative called it an "attractive prospect" but said Coleman would still face a tough fight for the Republican nomination. And there's this to weigh in the political calculus: Because the majority of Minnesota voters want him to concede to Franken, would a run for governor make Coleman less inclined to drag out the legal fight? Stay tuned.
(More Tim Pawlenty stories.)