(CNN) -- Ten years ago, Al Franken wrote a satirical book detailing his fictitious race for the White House. In "'Why Not Me?" Franken trounces former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to win the election, but after countless scandals, a mental breakdown and a cloning incident, President Franken is forced to resign.
Asked how he came up with the idea for the book, Franken said at the time that a number of people had been encouraging him to run for office.
"They thought it would be a good idea because I obviously know a lot about politics; I'm comfortable on camera, as you can tell; I've been married once, have two children; very, very good looking. And I told them that I'd be a terrible office-holder, so that was sort of the genesis of this idea," he said.
As far-fetched as the plot was, Franken's political aspirations weren't fantasy, and eight months after Election Day, the Democrat will be sworn in as an office-holder, representing Minnesota in the Senate.
Soon after, the outspoken comedian and former radio host will take over the desk once occupied by election rival Norm Coleman.
http://www.cnn.com/http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/06/franken.bio/index.html