Coleman goes after Franken’s ‘juicy porn’ in TV ad

A new television ad released by the campaign of Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) rails against Democrat Al Franken for making “tasteless, sexist jokes” and writing “all that juicy porn.”

Coleman’s campaign has not shied away from pointed criticisms of Franken’s often vulgar and crude work as a comedian and satirist, but Wednesday’s release represents the first time the subject has been the focus of a TV ad.

{mosads}Franken’s campaign has weathered attacks from the left and right over his past remarks and ideas, whether as an author, "Saturday Night Live" star or Air America radio host. Now Coleman is launching a large-scale effort to make all voters aware of Franken’s past.

The ad features three bowlers sitting in an alley and talking about Franken’s candidacy. It also references Franken’s failure to pay certain taxes and provide his employees with workers compensation insurance.

At the same time, the ad seeks to be light-hearted, reprising a character from a previous ad who praised Coleman for bringing professional hockey back to Minnesota.

“And we’ve decided we’re running for U.S. Senate,” the character says. “Why not? We’re just as qualified as Al Franken, and we’re better bowlers.”

Franken’s campaign said the attacks aren’t surprising.

“Norm Coleman is already resorting to misleading smear attacks, but I guess that was predictable,” said spokesman Andy Barr. “Given his record of selling out to Big Oil and special interests and lining up in lockstep with George W. Bush, what else was he going to talk about?”

The ad can be viewed here .