Conan O’Brien to host fundraiser for former ‘SNL’ co-worker Sen. Al Franken

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) is tapping another “Saturday Night Live”
alumnus to fundraise for him. And this time it’s Conan O’Brien.

The former “SNL” writer/”Tonight Show” host will join Franken in Minneapolis later this month for a $500-a-person fundraiser (or $4,800 to have a picture taken), according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. 

Franken has used his “SNL” connections before — last week Dan Aykroyd hosted a Franken fundraiser in L.A. along with alumni Kevin Nealon and Dana Carvey. Seth Meyers was in Minneapolis in March for a fundraiser.

O’Brien is on a nationwide comedy tour before he starts his TBS talk show this fall.

Franken isn’t up for reelection until 2014, but the proceeds will go to his political action committee, “Franken MVPs,” where he can help other Democrats facing a tough election year. Franken knows what that’s like: He faced a nine-month recount before he could take his seat after the 2008 election.

And bringing aboard his famous friends represents a different tactic for Franken, who downplayed his comedic past in his 2008 campaign.