Downballot: Franken turned down

Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:07 AM by Domenico Montanaro

MINNESOTA: "Democrat Al Franken was quickly turned down Monday when he asked Minnesota's governor and secretary of state to issue an election certificate that would let him take office in the Senate." The Coleman campaign took exception, wrote their own letter thanking the governor and secretary of state for not certifying until the legal process plays out, and yet accused the secretary of state in a conference call of being favorable to Franken.

NEW YORK: "Gov. Paterson said Caroline Kennedy 'impressed' him in her interview for the U.S. Senate seat, but he's not ready to declare the front-runner just yet. In an exclusive interview with the Daily News, Paterson said he has interviewed 15 people, including Kennedy, whom he met with on Saturday in his office. 'She didn't eliminate herself in the meeting,' he said. 'I was impressed with the effort that she seems to be making,' Paterson said. '[She's] trying to learn the issues, trying to meet the people, trying to move around. I asked her about some of the things that happened, and I found the answers to be quite understandable.' "

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Comments

There isn't an ounce of respect left for the US Senate. Not after the Burris fiasco. To let Franken and Carloine in would just be more of the same, icing on the cakse as it were, and make the Senate an even bigger laughing stock, who would have ever believed that would be possible?

Drew P., Illinois (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:18 AM)

'I was impressed with the effort that she seems to be making,' Paterson said.

========

What does that even mean? She could have sat there for an hour saying "I want it! I want it! I want it! You know." I guess Caroline could call Burris for advice on how to suck up.

PLA - NY (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:21 AM)

Nothing to comment here. Except that Coleman is just another example of Republican "do as I say, not as I do" hypocrisy. He wanted Franken to let it go when he thought he was the winner, now he can't let it go himself.

1 WEEK UNTIL INAUGURATION DAY!
http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:45 AM)

PLA - NY,

What it means is that Patterson said he wasn't going to show his cards until he was ready to announce and he means it.

The press - including, sadly, First Read - has been hyperventilating and prognosticating over zero information for weeks.

He'll tell us who it is when he's ready. Just chill.

Cormac, NYC (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:20 AM)

In spite of the cheating I suspect Al Franken will get everything he wants.

Mollyanna (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:21 AM)

Republican governor turns down Democrat in a close race that the GOP is still whining about? No surprise.

(If the shoe were on the other foot the Democratic gov would turn down the Rep. Sen candidate too, no doubt.)

eagle1776 (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 10:30 AM)

Can Coleman show any more true Republican colors than keeping this stupid thing going when he's clearly lost? What a typical Republican hypocrit with his "do as I say, not as I do" handling of this mess in Minnesota. Why doesn't he just step aside as he wanted Franken to do when he was ahead? How hard is that? Apparently too hard for this particular Republican. Republicans are all hypocrits.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 11:05 AM)

Many years ago, the good people of MN elected a Govenor that was a joke. Now they appear to have elected a CLOWN. On the surface, this does make some sense as he will fit right in with the rest of the Clowns in Washington.

auggie washington dc (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 12:09 PM)

To those of you who do NOT live in Minnesota, all you may know of Al Franken may be from SNL or his books. Those of us in this state who voted for him, know much more about him. His credentials are genuine, as are his command of the state of things here in Minnesota and through out the country. He is well educated and passionate in his beliefs. He is perfectly suited to hold the seat once held by another great Senator, Paul Wellstone. Norm Coleman risks losing all credibility here in Minnesota with his contesting of the recount -which was conducted per Minnesota law and under the watchful eyes of both sides. We are all eager to have this settled and move forward with 2 fantastic Senators from Minnesota - Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken,

Ann, Twin Cities, Minnesota (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 12:57 PM)

Ventura wasn't that bad of a governor. Franken will be a great Senator. Nobody here in Minnesota cares what people in the various Republican states think, because our state is better than their funky little shitholes.

John Emerson (Sent Tuesday, January 13, 2009 4:16 PM)

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