'Call me, Al': Franken's bid

Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Larry David and Kevin Kline... not to mention the cartoonist Gary Trudeau and film director Rob Reiner. It's an A-list cast any Hollywood gathering would be proud of.

But these top names are backing a political campaign - with serious cash. And for once, it's not Barack Obama. No - the star's dollars are rolling in for one of their own: former Saturday Night Live star turned liberal radio shock-jock Al Franken.

The author of Lies, and the Lying Liars who Tell Them - who took on Fox News over their attempt to copyright the slogan "Fair and Balanced" - is now running for the US Senate. His Democratic campaign in Minnesota has now raised $1.35 million in the first quarter of the year - just behind the incumbent Republican Norm Coleman.

Mr Franken's team have denied he's bankrolled by "Hollywood money". They insist almost three quarters of their cash comes from Minnesotans.

Keep it local. But fund it big-style.

This article originally appeared on the Newsroom blog

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