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'''Norman "Norm" Coleman, Jr.''', born August 17, 1949 (age {{age|1949|8|17}}), is the former United States Senator from [[Minnesota]] and a member of the [[Republican Party]].

'''Norman "Norm" Coleman, Jr.''', born August 17, 1949 (age {{age|1949|8|17}}), is the former United States Senator from [[Minnesota]] and a member of the [[Republican Party]].

==Early Life==

==Early life==

Coleman was born and raised in a [[Jewish]] family in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]]. He is married to actress and model Laurie Coleman. Coleman is a graduate of James Madison High School in Brooklyn, New York and [[Hofstra University]] on Long Island.

Coleman was born and raised in a [[Jewish]] family in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]]. He is married to actress and model Laurie Coleman. Coleman is a graduate of James Madison High School in Brooklyn, New York and [[Hofstra University]] on Long Island.

==Political career==  

==Political career==

Coleman's politics have changed dramatically throughout his political career. In college, he was a [[liberal]] [[Democrat]] and protested against the [[Vietnam War]]. He ran for student senate and once wrote in his school newspaper "these [[conservative]] kids don't f#ck or get high like we do." In 1993 he was elected mayor of Saint Paul as a member of the Minnesota [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL). In 1996, Mayor Coleman made a major change. Saying that he was frustrated that the Democratic party he had been a part of from his youth had assumed the role of defenders of the status quo, he switched to the Republican party because he felt it held the best opportunity to bring about job growth, quality education and greater public safety. In 1997, he was reelected mayor as a Republican, with 59 percent of the vote. In 1998 he ran for Governor of Minnesota and lost to former professional wrestler [[Jesse Ventura]]. In 2002 Coleman was elected to the United States Senate, defeating former Vice President [[Walter Mondale]].

Coleman's politics have changed dramatically throughout his political career. In college, he was a [[liberal]] [[Democrat]] and protested against the [[Vietnam War]]. He ran for student senate and once wrote in his school newspaper "these [[conservative]] kids don't f#ck or get high like we do." In 1993 he was elected mayor of Saint Paul as a member of the Minnesota [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL). In 1996, Mayor Coleman made a major change. Saying that he was frustrated that the Democratic party he had been a part of from his youth had assumed the role of defenders of the status quo, he switched to the Republican party because he felt it held the best opportunity to bring about job growth, quality education and greater public safety. In 1997, he was reelected mayor as a Republican, with 59 percent of the vote. In 1998 he ran for Governor of Minnesota and lost to former professional wrestler [[Jesse Ventura]]. In 2002 Coleman was elected to the United States Senate, defeating former Vice President [[Walter Mondale]].

==United States Senate==  

==United States Senate==

Coleman was a member of four Senate committees including the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In 2004 he ran for chairman of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]] (N.R.S.C.) but was defeated by [[North Carolina]] Senator [[Elizabeth Dole]] by one vote. Senator Coleman calls himself pro-life and has voted against embryonic stem cell research. Coleman opposes [[gay]] marriages and civil unions. He opposed President [[George W. Bush]]'s troop increase in [[Iraq]] in January of 2007.

Coleman was a member of four Senate committees including the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In 2004 he ran for chairman of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]] (N.R.S.C.) but was defeated by [[North Carolina]] Senator [[Elizabeth Dole]] by one vote. Senator Coleman calls himself pro-life and has voted against embryonic stem cell research. Coleman opposes [[gay]] marriages and civil unions. He opposed President [[George W. Bush]]'s troop increase in [[Iraq]] in January 2007.

== 2008 Senate re-election results ==  

== 2008 Senate re-election results ==

Senator Coleman ran for reelection in 2008.  His opponents were former U.S. Senator [[Dean Barkley]] of the [[Independence Party]], and the [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL) candidate [[Al Franken]].

Senator Coleman ran for reelection in 2008.  His opponents were former U.S. Senator [[Dean Barkley]] of the [[Independence Party]], and the [[Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]] (DFL) candidate [[Al Franken]].

== References ==

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://coleman.senate.gov/ Official Site]

*[http://coleman.senate.gov/ Official Site]

*[http://ontheissues.org/Senate/Norm_Coleman.htm Coleman On the Issues]

*[http://ontheissues.org/Senate/Norm_Coleman.htm Coleman On the Issues]