Coleman camp calls Franken's D.C. visit 'presumptuous'

Article by: BILL McAULIFFE , Star Tribune
Updated: November 17, 2008 - 11:55 AM

The DFLer plans to update Senate Democratic leaders on the recount and also do some fundraising.

196
comments
resize text
print
buy reprints

Tweet
share

email
Email share

your name

your email

recipients email

+ add a comment add a comment

Although he doesn't have a seat, Al Franken will have the floor Tuesday when he meets with Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate.

Franken, who is locked in a mandatory recount of the Nov. 4 balloting with Republican incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman, will update Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and others on the recount process, said his spokeswoman, Colleen Murray.

The Senate leaders and the candidate also will talk about upcoming legislation, she said.

"If he should win this election, it would be irresponsible for him not to get ready to take office," she said. "Minnesota deserves a senator who is ready to take office on Day One."

Franken, who was last in Washington in September, will skip a scheduled orientation for new senators also scheduled for this week.

Attending that, Murray said, would be "presumptuous."

Coleman's communications director, Mark Drake, upped that ante, calling it "highly presumptuous for Mr. Franken to undertake such a visit when his real purpose appears to be fundraising and gaining partisan advantage from non-Minnesotans."

Franken will indeed be doing some fundraising, Murray said. "We've been up front about the fact that the recount is very expensive," she said.

Coleman leads Franken by 206 votes; 2.9 million were cast on Election Day. Fifteen percent went to Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley.

The recount, required by state law because the unofficial outcome was so close, will begin Wednesday. A final tally could be reached by Dec. 19, though the counting may very likely end up in court.

Bill McAuliffe • 612-673-7646

related content
Group alleging voter irregularities seeks a probe

Last update: Monday November 17, 2008 - 9:43 PM

Minnesota Majority says the secretary of state didn't verify registrations. Mark Ritchie's office says that's not true.
Franken hones absentee case ahead of Minn. recount

Last update: Monday November 17, 2008 - 3:19 PM

Democrat Al Franken's Senate campaign, trailing heading into a statewide recount, argued Monday that a key Minnesota election board needs to examine rejected absentee ballots before certifying the race results.
Tripartisan group calls for open recount process

Last update: Monday November 17, 2008 - 4:46 PM

A group from across the political spectrum spoke out today on the integrity of an upcoming recount in Minnesota's U.S....
Recount FAQ: What's next

Last update: Saturday November 15, 2008 - 10:53 PM

The state Canvassing Board -- chaired by Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and including Minnesota Chief Justice Eric Magnuson, Associate Justice G. Barry Anderson and District Judges Kathleen Gearin and Edward Cleary -- will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the State Office Building.