Senator Al Franken Re-Election Campaign Under Way

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Al Franken hits the airwaves with the first TV ad of his re-election campaign.

Franken's 30-second spot begins running statewide Tuesday. It promotes Franken's efforts to help train workers for skilled jobs. It features the owner of Top Tool, a small manufacturing company in Blaine, who talks about her struggle to find qualified people to fill job openings.

The Democratic senator introduced a bill last year that invests in public-private partnerships between manufacturers and community and technical colleges.

Federal Communications Commission filings show Franken's campaign is spending nearly $146,000 on the ads, which run through Monday.

Republicans seeking to take on Franken include state Sen. Julianne Ortman, investment banker Mike McFadden, St. Louis County Commissioner Chris Dahlberg and state Rep. Jim Abeler.