Last year, the left wing's answer to Rush Limbaugh and other top-rated conservative talkers said he wanted to run in 2008 against Minnesota Republican Senator Norm Coleman, now in his first term after defeating former Democratic Vice President and presidential candidate Walter Mondale in 2002.

Speculation that Franken would seek to replace Dayton instead of running against Coleman arose after Franken told a TV station that he was thinking about running for Dayton's soon-to-be-open seat in 2006.

Franken, who is a Minnesota native, now says that he plans to honor his two-year commitment to Air America. And, while keeping his options open for a 2008 campaign against Coleman, he said he would move back to Minnesota before making any announcement of his candidacy.

His decision leaves former U.S. Senator Rod Grams, who lost his seat to Dayton in 2000, as the only announced candidate for Dayton's seat.

Editor's note: