DFL Senate candidate Al Franken is claiming Republican incumbent Norm Coleman should lose the standard discount on political ads because his picture in a recent TV spot wasn't on the screen as long as federal law requires.
Washington attorneys for the Franken campaign sent a letter this week to Minnesota TV station managers stating Coleman has "forfeited" his right to "the lowest unit [ad] charge for the duration of the campaign," and urging them to charge the Coleman campaign the higher rate paid by non-political advertisers.
The ad features kind words for Coleman from longtime DFLer Sandy Keith, former Minnesota Supreme Court chief justice. At the end comes Coleman's image and the standard voiceover, "I'm Norm Coleman and I approved this message." But Coleman's picture appeared for 2 to 3 seconds, not the 4 required in federal political ads that refer to one's opponent.
Mark Drake, a spokesman for the Coleman campaign, said the ad has since been tweaked to meet the requirement.
Paying the higher ad rate could cost the Coleman campaign upward of $1 million.
KEVIN DUCHSCHERE
