Franken to broadcast in Portland before election

PORTLAND – Liberal political commentator Al Franken is bringing his radio talk show to Maine the day before Election Day.

The former Saturday Night Live comedian and writer will broadcast his national radio show on the Air America network live from the 1,900-seat Merrill Auditorium from noon to 3 p.m. on Monday. The show is free and open to the public.

Franken’s visit is partially a thank you to the network’s supporters in Maine. Earlier this fall, hundreds of listeners protested when Portland station WLVP announced it was dropping Air America for sports programming.

But the protests convinced the station that Air America could draw listeners and advertisers. In early October, the station announced it would continue broadcasting Air America.

“That made us want to come there. We appreciated the outcry,” Franken, 53, said from New York. “And we were going to do the show from Boston on Election Day, so it made sense to go to Portland too.”

Franken has come to Maine twice in recent weeks to campaign for the Democratic Party.

He was a guest speaker at the Cumberland County Democratic Committee’s annual picnic in Cape Elizabeth on Sept. 26, and he spoke Saturday at a rally at Colby College in Waterville.

His wife, Frannie, is originally from Portland and his sister-in-law chairs the Cumberland County Democratic Committee.

Air America began broadcasting in March and is now heard in 37 cities. Franken normally does the show from New York, but has broadcast from other cities as well.

For the show in Portland, Franken said his producers have invited several Democratic politicians, including U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud and Gov. John Baldacci.