Minnesota Public Radio reports that Democrat Al Franken, who is seeking to oust Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, says he no longer would support an increase in the federal gas tax in light of recent price surges. “Last year, Franken said he would not rule out a small increase in the gas tax to help pay for infrastructure improvements,” the station reports. “However, that was in the wake of the I-35W bridge collapse, when gas was selling below $3 a gallon.” Franken wrote on his Web site that Minnesotans are feeling the squeeze after a nearly 50 percent jump in gas prices since the bridge collapse. “We need to take that option off the table and find another way to fund our infrastructure,” Franken wrote. Coleman has opposed increasing the federal gas tax.

The Los Angeles Times reports that “San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who built a national reputation pushing cutting-edge — and controversial — policies on same-sex marriage, health care and other issues, launched an exploratory bid for governor Tuesday.” The 40-year-old, two-term mayor is part of a “a large Democratic field eyeing the race to succeed Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is barred by term limits from running again in 2010.” Among others “widely discussed” as potential candidates are Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, a former governor; Lt. Gov. John Garamendi; former Controller Steve Westly, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2006, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “Among Republicans, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is seen as likely to run.”

The Concord Monitor reports that former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen plans to use incumbent GOP Sen. John E. Sununu’s voting record against him. She said their rematch will be a referendum on what Sununu has done since winning the seat in 2002. Polls indicate Shaheen has an 11-point lead. “He’s running as an incumbent senator now...who voted with this administration 90 percent of the time and got us to where we are today: with $9 trillion in debt, a war in Iraq with no end, a housing crisis, gas prices that are the highest in history, and no energy plan,” Shaheen said. But Sununu spokeswoman Julie Teer attacked “Jeanne Shaheen’s legacy of failed leadership and higher taxes.” Shaheen is a former three-term governor, and much of the 2002 race focused on her record. Now she hopes to turn the tables, the paper said.