We're still somewhat early in the endorsement season, but so far, Al Franken has been skunked by the state's bigger dailies.

Here's the list so far:

Norm Coleman
♦ Forum Communications (Duluth News-Tribune, West Central Tribune, Bemidji Pioneer, Fargo-Moorhead Forum and others)
♦ ECM (Coon Rapids, Mille Lacs County Times, Morrison County Record and others)
♦ Albert Lea Tribune
♦ Marshall Independent
♦ McLeod County Chronicle

Dean Barkley
♦ Minnesota Daily

Franken has picked up at least one non-daily endorsement — from the American Jewish World (pdf) — and he's probably well-positioned to pick up other ethnic paper nods.

Still, those lack the cachet of a daily.

What about the metro behemoths? I've bet Minnesota Democrats Exposed's Michael Brodkorb that Franken won't get the Strib endorsement — I just can't see an editorial page trying so hard to drive in the middle endorsing Obama and Franken.

(I think Michael picked Franken to raise expectations, but I'll take bragging rights.)

As for the Pioneer Press: Despite its crafty presidential non-endorsement, it seems an unlikely place to buck the current pattern. I'm just speculating, so don't take it to the bank.

Significant papers in Rochester, St. Cloud, Winona and Mankato also have yet to weigh in. But if Franken doesn't pick up a nod in places like those, the liberal media will — in this case at least — prove to be anything but.