Lieutenant Governor Joanne Benson today (WED) made official her intention to succeed Governor Carlson. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste has the story: The Joanne Benson campaign has been up and running for more than a year, but Benson saved the official announcement for a propitious moment. With St Paul Mayor Norm Coleman expected to announce on Sunday, that moment seems to have come -- ((I will seek and expect to win the endorsement of the republican party, and THEN seek the endorsement of the people of MN. (applause).)) -- Benson is hoping she's beat Coleman to the punch on more than just announcements. While the media has been fixated on Coleman's Hamlet act -- to run or not to run? -- the Benson campaign has been bus