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Mr. Franken Goes to Washington

Candidate to discuss recount, bone up on bills, raise funds

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Nov 17, 2008 7:51 AM CST

(Newser) – Al Franken is heading to Washington while his senate race with incumbent Norm Coleman goes into recount, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. In DC, Franken will meet with Democratic leaders to discuss the recount process, and to bone up on impending legislation. Said Franken’s spokeswoman, “If he should win this election, it would be irresponsible for him not to get ready to take office.”

Though the candidate’s trip is meant to get him ready in case he wins, he isn’t attending formal Senate orientation, which his spokeswoman said would be “presumptuous.” A Coleman spokesman labeled the whole trip “highly presumptuous,” and accused Franken of going to Washington to raise money. “We've been up front about the fact that the recount is very expensive,” said the Franken spokeswoman.

[Images (3)]

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Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie outlines the procedure of a recount on the Senate race between Sen. Norm Coleman and Al Franken on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008 in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

In this June 7, 2008 file photo, Al Franken addresses delegates at his party's state convention in Rochester, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)

In this Sept. 15, 2008 file photo, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman is shown in Minneapolis. faces Democrat Al Franken and Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race. Minnesota's... (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)

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... 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. - Mark Drake, communications director for Norm Coleman

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Mr. Franken Goes to Washington