U.S. Senate candidate Norm Coleman visited Albert Lea Wednesday and talked to the public at the Donut Hut Cafe. The Minnesota race between Coleman and Sen. Paul Wellstone is one of the key contests for the Republicans to gain control in the Senate.

Coleman arrived at Donut Hut on East Main Street led by State Sen. Grace Schwab, R-Albert Lea, around 9:15 after appearing on the air on KATE/KCPI radio.

Around 20 customers in the shop, mostly senior citizens, were greeted by the familiar figure they have seen on repeated TV campaign ads.

Referring to his reason to run for public office, Coleman said, &uot;It is very tough to serve. But you want to make difference in people’s life. This is my call.&uot;

After being born and raised in New York, and living in St. Paul for during his long service in the state attorney general’s office as a prosecutor and City Hall as the mayor Coleman’s tie with rural Minnesota is relatively weak.

But customer Dwaine Steele, a retired dairy farmer from Alden Township, said that he would expect Coleman to play a positive role in a farm policy such as the promotion of exports and a favorable exchange rate.

In the donut shop just across the dilapidated Farmland building, Coleman said his successful management as the St. Paul mayor would be applicable to a rural development.

During his eight years in office, Coleman said he created 18,000 new jobs and over $3 billion in new development without raising the property tax. &uot;That didn’t happen by accident,&uot; Coleman said.