Politickin' With John Brown: When Entertainers Enter Politics

If John Mellencamp does decide to run for Senate in Indiana, he wouldn't be the first entertainer to get it in politically.

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The political game, much like show business, is often an entertaining soap opera of talented egomaniacs. So it's little surprise when the two worlds collide. After Indiana Senator and nominal Democrat Evan Bayh announced this week that he wouldn't be torpedoing health care reform seeking re-election for a third term, rumors began swirling that fellow Hoosier John "Small Town" Mellencamp might run for Bayh's vacated seat. History suggests it's not such a bad idea.

Elections are a popularity contest by definition—so naturally, celebrities who get political have caused people to confuse the distinction between voter and fan. The results are as varied as the candidates themselves. While some, such as Bono, play the sidelines as advocates, others fully enter the political arena by running for office. Here's a look back...

Al Franken (D), 2009
• They say some of the best rappers could be comedians, and it looks like the same is true for politicians. Franken sharpened his comedic chops writing and performing on SNL back when it was funny. Following a string of books that attacked the right wing, Franken intensified his political ambitions and eventually secured a seat in the Senate. All jokes aside, watching him rip into adversaries is high-level entertainment.

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