In the race for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, one candidate is head and shoulders above the rest. That candidate is Norm Coleman, a Republican who is completing his first term.

Coleman is competent, experienced and bipartisan. He has worked across the aisle on issues such as energy - as a member of the Gang of 20 - and yet he has remained his own man on matters of principle. He supported the Bush tax cuts, he has fought against a timetable for withdrawal in Iraq and he has acted to curb abuses at the United Nations.

Coleman does not have his head in the clouds. He has not draped himself in Washington power. He has been a consistent advocate on rural development, transportation and alternative energy; all important issues in his home state. People often say they want their representatives to work together - regardless of party - to get things done. That is what Norm Coleman has done.

Coleman's challengers are Democrat Al Franken and Independent Dean Barkley. Both have offered positive contributions to the dialogue in this campaign. But neither can really measure up to the qualifications of Senator Coleman, whom we believe Minnesota needs to send back to the Senate for another six years.