MPR: Campaign 2002: U.S. Senate

ELECTION RETURNS

See complete election results from the 2002 general election.

AUDIO

Anatomy of a Campaign
MPR's Mark Zdechlik revisits the Senate campaign of 2002, with interviews of insiders involved in the Wellstone, Coleman and Mondale camps. (12/27/02)Listen

Norm Coleman
GOP Senate candidate accepts victory at a rally at the Capitol rotunda Listen.

Walter Mondale
DFL Senate candidate concedes. Listen.

YOUR VOICE

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AD WATCH

Minnesota Public Radio analyzes the political advertising of this campaign. Who finances them? Do they tell the truth? See our Ad Watch section.

LATEST DEBATES

Coleman-Mondale Debate
On the day before the general election that decided the fate of their one-week campaign, former Vice President Walter Mondale and former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman debated at the Fitzgerald Theater.
Listen | Read . (11/4/02)

Senate-Rochester
All four major-party candidates for U.S. Senate appeared together for the first time since the State Fair. U.S. policy toward Iraq was a central focus of the debate. Listen | Read . (10/17/02)

Senate - Concordia College
Sen. Paul Wellstone, Republican Norm Coleman and Independent Party candidate Jim Moore debated in a 90-minute debate in Moorhead. Listen (10/15/02)

See an extensive archive of political debate audio from the campaign of 2002.

CAMPAIGN RACE

U.S. Senate

At-A-Glance On October 25, 2002, a plane crash near Eveleth, Minn., killed U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone. The DFLer was locked in a close race at the time with Republican Norm Coleman, the former mayor of St. Paul. DFLers turned to former Vice President Walter Mondale. Meanwhile, Gov. Jesse Ventura, angry this his party's candidate wasn't invited to a last-minute debate, appointed Dean Barkley to fill out Wellstone's unexpired term.



	Latest Campaign News
	Coleman wins; Mondale concedes Nov. 6 -- Exactly one week after he entered Minnesota's Senate race as a fill-in for the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, Walter Mondale conceded that race on Wednesday to Republican Norm Coleman. "It appears that this election has been decided and a few minutes ago I called Senator-elect Coleman to congratulate him on his success and wish him and Laurie the best in his new assignment," Mondale told supporters at a St. Paul hotel. (More) How did it happen? What does it mean? Nov. 6 -- Minnesota Republicans are ecstatic, and Democrats are reeling from the near-Republican sweep of the general election. Republicans won races for U.S. Senate, governor, two closely-watched suburban congressional seats, and all but one constitutional office. Political observers say the reasons range from the messages of the campaigns to reaction to the memorial service for the late Sen. Paul Wellstone. (More) Ventura appoints Barkley to Wellstone seat Nov. 4 - Gov. Ventura has appointed independent Dean Barkley as the temporary replacement to late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone. Ventura says he's angry that debate organizers continue to exclude third-party candidates from participating. (More)
	More Campaign Reports
	•Coleman beats Mondale; claims Senate seat (11/6/02) •How did it happen? What does it mean? (11/6/02) •Mondale, Coleman hold debate (11/4/02) •Conflicting polls add to campaign confusion (11/3/02) •Mondale campaigns on Iron Range (11/3/02) •White House visits boost Coleman (11/3/02) •Minnesota court orders new absentee ballots in Senate race (10/31/02) •Senate candidates hit the road (10/31/02) •Senate race resumes (10/30/02) •GOP restarts campaign after Wellstone death (10/28/02) •DFL, Wellstone family, look to Mondale (10/27/02) •Despite grief, DFL struggles with political reality (10/26/02) •Wellstone, 7 others, killed in plane crash (10/25/02) •Senate race:What now? (10/25/02) •Senate candidates disagree over economy in Chamber of Commerce debate (10/21/02) •Four Senate candidates debate in Rochester (10/18/02) •Three-way Senate debate in Moorhead (10/16/02) •Senate candidates focus on economy (10/16/02) •Three-way Senate debate in Moorhead (10/16/02) •Wellstone, Coleman debate; Tricomo, Moore shut out (10/12/02) •Senate race issue: Prescription drugs (10/9/02) •Wellstone looks to suburbs (10/7/02) •Iraq issue has Wellstone on defensive (9/27/02) •Coleman calls for first strike against Iraq (9/23/02) •Coleman, Wellstone spar over Social Security ads (9/20/02) •Voters making up their minds: It's close (9/18/02) •Ad Watch: Gloves come off (9/16/02) •McGaa ousted from Senate race; Incumbent lawmakers advance (9/11/02) •Senate candidates in raucous debate at State Fair (8/30/02) •Ad Watch: Coleman, Wellstone tangle over Social Security (8/29/02) •Food, fun and politicking at the fair (8/26/02) •Candidates debate wildlife issues, gun control(8/17/02) • Attack ads target Wellstone(8/14/02) •Senate candidates debate for the first time(8/6/02) •McGaa officially launches Senate campaign (8/5/02) •Wellstone paints Coleman with a 'big business' brush (7/30/02) •Coleman, Wellstone battle over national defense (7/24/02) •Wellstone, Coleman locked in tight money race too (7/16/02) •Moore endorsed by Independence Party (7/15/02) •Independence Party has Senate battle of its own (7/9/02) • In scandals' wake, corporate responsibility becomes issue in Senate race (7/8/02) • Now an 'official' candidate, Coleman opens fire on Wellstone over taxes (7/2/02) •Ad war breaks out in Senate race (6/28/02) •First attack ad targets Wellstone (6/21/02) •Coleman accepts convention endorsement (6/14/02) •Senate candidate camps debate Coleman education ad (6/3/02) •Rural Minnesota could be battleground in Coleman's Senate race (6/3/02) •Wellstone officially launches re-election effort (5/28/02) •Pentel, McGaa get major Green Party endorsements (5/20/02) •Crusader becomes campaign issue (5/9/02) •Wellstone endorsed by DFL (5/4/02) •Adwatch: Claiming credit (4/19/02) •Wellstone may be in trouble; candidates scramble for cash (4/16/2002) •Coleman asks for cap on out-of-state money (3/20/02) • Bush raises $1 million for Coleman (3/4/02) •Wellstone has 'mild form' of MS (2/24/02) •Money, broken pledge likely to dominate Wellstone bid (2/11/02) •Coleman jumps into the race (2/11/02) •The money chase (1/31/02) • Bush visit is start of Senate campaign (5/16/01)

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