 According to an article by Richard Corliss published in Time , " In a way , Franken has been running for office since the late ' 70s . " Corliss also hinted at Franken 's " possibly ironic role as a relentless self @-@ promoter " in proclaiming the 1980s " the Al Franken Decade " and saying , " Vote for me , Al Franken . You 'll be glad you did ! " In 1999 , Franken released a parody book , Why Not Me ? , detailing his hypothetical campaign for President in 2000 . He had been a strong supporter of Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone and was deeply affected by the Senator 's death in a plane crash shortly before the 2002 election . Wellstone was a mentor and political and personal role model for Franken , with Franken stating his hopes of following in the late Senator ’ s footsteps . 
