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Al Franken's formal dark suit over a pressed shirt and tie makes him look more like a banker than a Deadhead. But if you're riding with the Democratic senator, you will listen to the Grateful Dead. 


"I just love those guys," Franken said as we rode from his hotel to two of the many events packing his schedule here at this week's Democratic National Convention. 

Election 2016


Several staffers are with him to tell him where he's going and who will be there. They hope they get him there on time, or at least as close as they can.


After leaving one fancy hotel in downtown Philadelphia, it's off to another where Franken will pose for selfies with fans and otherwise acknowledge supporters, who constantly approach him.  He'll also deliver speeches to two state delegations that happen to be staying at the same hotel.


Since winning a seat in the Senate for Minnesota in 2008, he's presented himself as a serious and studied politician — much more of a policy-wonk than a comedian.


That's changing this week. Franken is a highly sought-after speaker around the Philadelphia convention, and he says the Clinton campaign asked him to draw on his old job as a funnyman to help make the case against Donald Trump.


Some Democrats think Franken could serve the party well if he was more funny, more often. 


"He's smart and his progressive and he's funny," said Heidi Harman, a California delegate for Bernie Sanders. "The way he communicates — you can see the intelligence but he has a personable-style and the humor that he brings to the conversation is, I think, something people are really hungry for."


Traveling with the senator to and from convention events, it's clear he's well-known and well-liked by Democrats. 


As he entered the Florida delegation's breakfast meeting earlier this week, he was quickly approached by people looking to take selfies with him. Then a local TV crew found him, seemingly delighted he was in reach and asking him to say hello for the camera. 


Franken was rumored to be on Hillary Clinton's short list of vice presidential candidates. He said he wouldn't have wanted the job, though. 


Now, Franken's sights are set on getting Clinton elected. In his convention speech Monday night, he told delegates that they'll soon have to start working hard to make her the next president. 


When asked whether mocking Trump bothers him, Franken laughed hard. Then he gave a serious answer:


"I think he's a bad guy. I think he's been reprehensible this past campaign."

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Mark Zdechlik

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Sen. Al Franken says the Clinton campaign asked him to draw on his old job as a funnyman to help make the case against Donald Trump at the Democratic National Convention.

To help Clinton, Franken draws on his funny past

Mark Zdechlik | MPR News

Democrats pose for a picture with Franken

To help Clinton, Franken draws on his funny past

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