AUDIO: OBAMA URGES MINNESOTANS TO SEND AL FRANKEN TO WASHINGTON

In Latest Boost For Franken Campaign, Barack Obama Asks Minnesotans To Send Him A Partner For Change: Al Franken

SAINT PAUL [11/03/08] – In a unexpected appearance on WCCO Radio’s Don Shelby Show, Senator Barack Obama today made another pitch for DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken, urging Minnesotans to send him a partner for change.

Senator Obama told listeners :

“I will say that your candidate in Minnesota, Al Franken, is going to be an important part of a coalition that brings about change. He’s really, I think, in this to fight for working families. I’m looking forward to seeing him serve in the Senate.

“And if people are looking for fundamental change over the next eight years, then I think an Obama-Biden ticket, Al Franken in the Senate, is going to be the best answer for working families all across the state.”

You can download an audio file of the segment here:
Download File

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PRESIDENT CLINTON VISITS MINNESOTA TO RALLY FOR CHANGE

With Five Days To Go, Clinton Urges Minnesotans To Get Out The Vote For Obama, Franken

SAINT PAUL [10/30/08] – At a packed rally at the Minneapolis Convention Center tonight, President Bill Clinton urged an enthusiastic crowd to work hard over the remaining five days in the campaign to elect Barack Obama and Al Franken.

Organizers estimated that 4000 people attended the event.

Clinton’s appearance is just the latest in a series of high-profile events to build excitement and momentum for the Obama-Franken coordinated Get-Out-The-Vote effort, the largest such grassroots campaign in Minnesota history.

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FRANKEN AND WALZ BRING “FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, FOR A CHANGE” TOUR TO ROCHESTER, OWATONNA, FARIBAULT, MANKATO

Franken Calls For Fundamental Change In Washington, Details Bold Economic Agenda For Minnesota’s Middle Class Families

10-Day Statewide Tour To Drive Unprecedented GOTV Operation

SAINT PAUL [10/30/08] – DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken and Congressman Tim Walz today rallied supporters in Rochester, Owatonna, Faribault and Mankato on the “For The Middle Class, For A Change” Tour. Sen. Amy Klobuchar joined Franken and Walz for a rally at MSU Mankato.

Franken focused on his bold economic agenda for Minnesota’s middle class families – including his plans to do bring back oversight on Wall Street and address the housing crisis; cut taxes for middle-class families; make health care and college more affordable; protect Social Security; end giveaways to special interests like big drug and oil companies; repeal tax breaks for companies that ship American jobs overseas; create jobs by investing in infrastructure and renewable energy; and make credit available to small businesses.

Al Franken:

“Folks are frustrated, they’re anxious, and, frankly, they’re outraged – and they have a right to be all three. Washington just isn’t working for Minnesota’s middle class families. And if we want change, we’re going to have to work for it. I want to go to Washington and work with President Barack Obama and Senator Amy Klobuchar to stand up for Minnesota’s middle class families. And I’m calling on everyone who’s ready for change to stand with me in this campaign.”

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FACT CHECK: NEW AD BY COLEMAN ALLY A BLATANT LIE

What Did Al Franken REALLY Say About Subprime Lending?

SAINT PAUL [10/30/08] – After a Norm Coleman ally released a new attack ad that blatantly lies about Al Franken, Communications Director Andy Barr released the following statement:

“Another day, another lie designed to help Norm Coleman fool Minnesotans about his record of selling out Minnesota families to the special interests. But we’re highlighting this one so you that Minnesotans can see that Al Franken was, in fact, leading the charge against predatory lending as early as 2002. Meanwhile, Norm Coleman has spent the last six years voting against cracking down on predatory lenders, voting against protecting the most vulnerable Minnesotans from losing their homes, and taking hundreds of thousands from big banks and lenders.”

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NEW REPORT: $700 BILLION BAILOUT BEING ABUSED BY BANKS – FRANKEN DEMANDS HEARINGS

Franken Opposed Bailout, Now Calls For More Oversight As New York Times Reports Taxpayer Dollars Are Being Used To Help Wall Street Profits Instead Of Economy

New York Times Editorial Today: “The Bailout Should Not Be An Occasion For Banks To Make A Killing.”

SAINT PAUL [10/29/08] – DFL Senate candidate Al Franken, the only candidate for Senate who opposed the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, today called for immediate hearings in light of reports indicating that banks may not be using those funds to unfreeze credit markets but rather for other purposes – with the encouragement of the Treasury Department.

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TODAY: OBAMA, FRANKEN SUPPORTERS GET READY FOR CLINTON RALLY!

Thomasin Franken Hosts Sign-Making Party At Franken Campaign HQ

SAINT PAUL [10/29/08] – Today, Barack Obama and Al Franken supporters will get ready to welcome President Bill Clinton to the Twin Cities. Franken’s daughter, Thomasin Franken, will host a sign-making party at Franken campaign headquarters this afternoon. These homemade rally signs will be used at Thursday’s "Five Days To Change" Get-Out-The-Vote Rally with Clinton.

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Politico: NRSC celeb thinks Obama may be anti-Christ, ’sooooo evil’

Jonathan Martin noted with some amusement a new video from the NRSC video featuring celebrities you may not have heard of, plus Pat Boone in a swimming pool, attacking Al Franken.

A reader adds an odd note: One of those “celebs,” Victoria Jackson, a Saturday Night Live vet (though no Franken admirer) voices rather strong feelings about Barack Obama on her website:

  I don’t want a political label, but Obama bears traits that resemble the anti-Christ and I’m scared to death that un-educated people will ignorantly vote him into office.

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BILL CLINTON HEADLINES ‘FIVE DAYS TO CHANGE’ RALLY FOR OBAMA CAMPAIGN, FRANKEN THURSDAY EVENING IN MINNEAPOLIS

Clinton Campaigns with Al Franken To Bring Change For Minnesota’s Middle Class

SAINT PAUL [10/28/08] – The Obama for America and Al Franken for Senate campaigns today announced that former President Bill Clinton will headline a “Five Days to Change” Get-Out-The-Vote rally in Minneapolis Thursday evening. Clinton will be joined by U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

“President Clinton has always understood that you grow the economy by investing in the middle class and putting people first,” said Al Franken. “Minnesota families need a change in Washington so we can get our economy back on track — and I’m so honored to be able to stand with President Clinton in fighting for that change in this election.”

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JOINED BY SEN. KLOBUCHAR, FRANKEN PROPOSES NEW LIFELINE FOR MINNESOTA SMALL BUSINESSES

Franken And Klobuchar Meet With Rochester Small Business Owners For Economic Roundtable

Franken Offers Economic Recovery Plan, Including New Proposal To Unfreeze Credit For Small Businesses

SAINT PAUL [10/28/08] – Joined by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken hosted an economic roundtable in Rochester today with a group of small business owners. Franken offered a new proposal to unfreeze credit for Minnesota small businesses, part of an economic recovery plan designed to create jobs and help Minnesota families in these tough economic times.

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The strategy backfired — though the ad brought down Franken’s favorability ratings, it also cost Coleman in a state where “Minnesota nice” prevails. Once polling showed Coleman losing ground, he decided to take down all his negative ads.

10 moments that rattled race for Congress
By: Josh Kraushaar, Politico
October 28, 2008 06:37 AM EST

A case can be made that Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) made the gaffe of the election when she went on MSNBC’s “Hardball” and suggested that Barack Obama and other Democratic members of Congress held anti-American views. Her comments changed what looked like an easy path to victory into a political dogfight with a very uncertain outcome.

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