Winonans don’t pay $15 to hear politicians speak. They did pay $15 Tuesday night to hear comedian Al Franken at Winona State University’s Somsen Auditorium. But the former “Saturday Night Live” performer didn’t come to Winona to visit Levee Park. Franken was here to stump for Tim Walz, a teacher turned politician from Mankato, Minn., running against six-term incumbent Rep. Gil Gutknecht in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District.Dressed in blue jeans and sneakers, Franken got a standing ovation before saying a word. “I’ve been campaigning for a number of candidates,” Franken said. “There’s none better than Tim.”
Franken quickly segued into the kind of humor that has given him legions of fans as well as detractors. “I hate the Republicans,” Franken said. “I hate the Republicans who think they own the flag.”