From a Star Tribune story on the new State Cloud State University survey:

A St. Cloud State University poll shows that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama leads Republican opponent John McCain 42 percent to 37 percent in Minnesota.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate race continues to display the volatility seen in polls throughout the season. After earlier surveys showed DFL challenger Al Franken with an edge, the SCSU poll shows Republican U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman leading with 36 percent, compared with 27 percent for Franken. Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley trails with 16 percent.

The poll, which surveyed 509 people Oct. 14-22 and has a margin of sampling error of 4.6 percent, might be the first in state history to include cell-phone users, which make up about 15 percent of those polled.

Norm Coleman is one of the most intelligent, reasonable members of the United States Senate, a happy warrior from the center-right, whose work on the United Nations food-for-oil-for-terrorists scandal should by itself earn him a return ticket from Gopher State voters.

The attack on Coleman's home --and the homes of other MN electeds including Democrats-- unlike the Pittsburgh hoax, was a real and despicable manifestation of the lunatic fringe at work in this year's election, and should focus the "Minnesota nice" voters on the need to rebuke the nutters of both left and right by sending an accomplished, talented and selfless public servant back to D.C. to provide balance in a Senate that will be dominated by Democrats.  Minne-so-coldians know Coleman from his days as the Democratic mayor of St. Paul and as a genuinely good natured, deeply humble and very committed legislator.  He deserves your help in the closing days of this campaign, which you can provide at www.colemanforsenate.com.