Ex-Minn. senator ousted by Al Franken won't be gov

[February 04, 2010]  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman says it's too soon to jump back into politics after his bruising loss to former "Saturday Night Live" comedian Al Franken.

Coleman put rumors to rest late Sunday in announcing he would not run for governor. The Republican says on his Facebook page that a campaign would come too late to run properly and too early after his Senate loss.

The 60-year-old Coleman didn't immediately return a phone message Sunday.

Coleman has kept a low profile since conceding to Franken in June, after a bitter election that was so close it took eight months of recounting and litigation to settle.

The former St. Paul mayor ran for governor in 1998, but was defeated by former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura.

[Associated Press]

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