A dozen Republican heavyweights debuted on YouTube this week, pleading for donations to help Norm Coleman pay his legal bills in his fight to regain Minnesota's U.S. Senate race.

The two-minute ad, produced by Coleman's election campaign, is straightforward about Coleman's financial needs and emphasizes the importance of holding 42 GOP seats in the Senate.

"We need 42 Republicans -- we need Norm Coleman to win his fight for Minnesota," says North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr. "A little bit of money right now could make the difference," says South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham. "We want him back in Washington -- we need him," says Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

The ad also features House Minority Leader John Boehner and Sens. Lamar Alexander, John Cornyn, John Thune, James Inhofe, Lisa Murkowski and Bob Corker.

Coleman and Democrat Al Franken have been furiously raising money ever since Election Day to wage their battle over the recount and the continuing court trial.

Franken and Coleman have each raised more than $3 million to finance their recount operations, according to the most recent documents released this month by the Federal Election Commission.

However, Coleman finished the reporting period with more cash on hand. He had more than $2.1 million while Franken had less than $1.5 million.

The campaigns are raising money directly, but they have also set up joint fundraising committees with their parties. That allows supporters to donate thousands more to the recount effort than they would be allowed to give directly to the campaigns.

Most recently, Coleman raised thousands of dollars last week at a fundraising event hosted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

BOB VON STERNBERG