Despite past reservations, a slew of women leaders and reproductive rights groups backed Al Franken for U.S. Senate last week — an indication that the campaign seems to have allayed the concerns of some progressives over the satirist’s past writings. U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum and the Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund endorsed Franken last week, while state House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher appeared in a video for Franken, and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar penned a fund-raising letter to help his campaign.


McCollum had been sharply critical of Franken, but on Friday she threw her undivided support behind him. "As I look forward to 2009, I want to be represented in the U.S. Senate by two Minnesota senators who will support and vote to advance our positive, action oriented Democratic agenda to strengthen our economy, keep our nation secure, and invest in our country’s future," wrote McCollum. "That means in this year’s race for the U.S. Senate I will be voting for Al Franken."


McCollum addressed the concerns she had and assured her constituents that Franken had done the work to mitigate the issue. "This spring I voiced concerns about material from Al’s past career," she wrote. "To have remained silent when asked would have been hypocritical and dishonest. I am confident my concerns have been heard and since then I have watched Al’s campaign take steps to address these matters."


She said she is confident that Franken can win with the controversy behind him. "Now, I believe Al and his campaign are appropriately focused on building a solid relationship with voters based on our shared Minnesota values, ideals, and hopes for the future. Like all candidates, Al understands that he is not only asking Minnesotans for their vote, but for their trust," she wrote. "As November 4th approaches, Al Franken will earn the trust of Minnesotans and I intend to work with him to win this election."


Planned Parenthood had expressed similar concerns over Franken’s past work, but last week endorsed Franken as well. "We believe Al Franken is the U.S. Senate candidate that Minnesota women and families can count on to protect and strengthen their health and rights. We know that Al Franken will stand with Minnesotans on reproductive health and on affordable and quality health care for all,” said Sarah Stoesz, president of the PPMNS Action Fund.


While Planned Parenthood wasn’t as forgiving as McCollum, the group praised Franken’s stance on reproductive and women’s issues, and it spent considerable time slamming incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman’s record. When asked about PPMNS’ change of heart, spokester Tim Stanley said it was the clear difference between Franken and Coleman.


"The answer was clear: Al Franken will stand up for women’s health care," he said. "He will be a leader in improving access to quality health care for women and will support and protect a woman’s right to choose. Planned Parenthood intends to defeat Norm Coleman in the fall, and Al Franken is the candidate to do just that."


PPMNS said that Coleman is the wrong candidate for Minnesota: "Norm Coleman is not a moderate. He is no friend to women and if elected, he will toe the line of the anti-choice hardliners."


The group cited his 100 percent rating from anti-abortion group National Right to Life Committee, his votes against funding for teen pregnancy prevention and family planning clinics, and his support for President Bush’s policies.

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