Norm Coleman continues to lead satirist Al Franken, according to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted for WashingtonPost.com and the Wall Street Journal. The poll, conducted 9/14-21, surveyed 1,301 likely voters for a margin of error of +/- 2.7%. Coleman and Franken were tested, while Independent candidate Dean Barkley was not.

General Election Matchup
(All / Dem / GOP / Ind / Men / Wom)
Coleman....49 / 11 / 93 / 50 / 51 / 48
Franken....42 / 84 / 4 / 38 / 42 / 43

Despite a significant investment by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Coleman still has good relations with his state's independent voters. Still, Barkley is likely to pull at least some voters from Coleman, making it likely that the winner will not reach the 50% mark.