FRANKEN STATEWIDE TOUR DRAWS OVERFLOW CROWDS IN GREATER MINNESOTA

Packed Houses Greet Franken On “For The Middle Class, For A Change” Tour

Momentum Builds As Hundreds Rally For Change At High-Energy Events

SAINT PAUL [10/28/08] — Promising a truly state-wide grassroots operation to turn out change voters in every corner of Minnesota, DFL Senate candidate Al Franken has been greeted with wild enthusiasm and overflow crowds throughout Greater Minnesota on his “For The Middle Class, For A Change” Tour.

Communications Director Andy Barr:

“This campaign for change isn’t just about Democrats. It’s also about Independents, disaffected Republicans, and people who never even thought about what party they belong to but know that the government just hasn’t been working for our middle class. And as we sprint towards the finish line, it’s clear that voters from everywhere on the ideological spectrum and everywhere in Minnesota are responding to Al’s message of change. Everywhere our tour goes, we’re overwhelmed by the energy and enthusiasm of Minnesotans ready to reject the failed policies of George Bush and Norm Coleman, and vote for a new direction with Barack Obama and Al Franken.”

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COLEMAN MANAGER ON NRSC CHAIR BID: “That’s For After The Election”

Norm Coleman’s answers continue to change regarding his not-so-stealth campaign to lead the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Republican Senators have already said that Coleman has asked for their support. Last night on KMSP, his campaign manager Cullen Sheehan said his effort to head the group responsible for the most offensive direct mail piece this cycle was “a conversation for after the election.” Meanwhile, in an interview with WCCO’S Pat Kessler, Norm Coleman has already begun thinking about how he would run the committee.

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BILL CLINTON HEADLINES RALLY FOR OBAMA CAMPAIGN, FRANKEN THURSDAY EVENING IN MINNEAPOLIS

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

SAINT PAUL [10/27/08] The Obama for America and Al Franken for Senate campaigns today announced that former President Bill Clinton will campaign in Minnesota Thursday to show his support for the two candidates. Clinton will host a rally in Minneapolis Thursday evening, joined by U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken.

“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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MONDALE, OTTO, ELLISON, AND AN EDINA MOTHER DEMAND APOLOGY FROM COLEMAN, REPUBLICANS AFTER “VILE” DIRECT MAIL PIECE “CROSSES THE LINE”

Minnesota Leaders Warn Fellow Parents About “Rape Mail” Targeted At Minnesota Children, Call On Coleman To End Coordination With Culprits

Mail Piece Generating National Attention For Appalling Tactics – But Coleman Wants To Lead The Group Responsible

SAINT PAUL [10/27/08] – After the partisan attack group Norm Coleman is actively campaigning to lead sent Minnesotans a mail piece targeted at children that contained discussion of rape and pornography, Minnesota elected officials called on Coleman to apologize and end his coordination with the group.

State Auditor Rebecca Otto:

“Norm Coleman’s friends at the National Republican Senatorial Committee did something this week that should outrage every mother in this state. Minnesota families would appreciate a public apology from Norm Coleman on behalf of his party, and a commitment that he will not try to be the head of the committee that produces this type of garbage, and uses this type of slimy tactic. Stick to the issues that affect families.”

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FRANKEN BRINGS “FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, FOR A CHANGE” TOUR TO ST. CLOUD, MORRIS, CROOKSTON, CLIMAX, MOORHEAD, BRAINERD, BEMIDJI

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 [10/27/08] – DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken, joined by Congressman Collin Peterson, today rallied supporters in St. Cloud, Morris, Crookston, Climax, Moorhead, Brainerd and Bemidji on his “For The Middle Class, For A Change” Tour.

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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FRANKEN BRINGS “FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, FOR A CHANGE” TOUR TO ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS

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 [10/26/08] – DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken today rallied supporters with Congressman Keith Ellison, Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Mayor R.T. Rybak in Minneapolis and St. Paul on his “For The Middle Class, For A Change” Tour.

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.

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Al Franken On The 6th Anniversary Of Paul And Sheila Wellstone’s Passing

SAINT PAUL [10/25/08]:

“Today marks six years since the plane crash that took the lives of Paul and Sheila Wellstone, their daughter Marcia Wellstone Markuson, Tom Lapic, Mary McEvoy, Will McLaughlin, and pilots Richard Conry and Michael Guess.

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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 [10/25/08] – DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken today rallied supporters in St. Paul, Austin, Albert Lea and St. Peter on his “For The Middle Class, For A Change” Tour.

Franken focused on his bold economic agenda for Minnesota’s middle class families – and urged supporters to take action as part of the DFL’s state-wide grassroots Get-Out-The-Vote campaign. The campaign will involve 77,000 volunteers making 1.5 million phone calls and 2.8 million door knocks before Election Day.

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“Jobs, Baby, Jobs”: Al Franken Wins Fourth Debate By Focusing On Minnesota’s Middle Class

After Four Debates, It’s Clear: Al Franken Is The Candidate Of Change For The Middle Class

SAINT PAUL [10/24/08] – Al Franken won his fourth consecutive Senate debate tonight – not by yelling the loudest or throwing the most elbows at his opponents, but by focusing on his middle-class economic agenda.

Communications Director Andy Barr:

“Al Franken is proving that you don’t need to be a career politician to win debates if you’re the candidate of change in an election that’s all about change. Tonight, Minnesota voters saw that it’s Al Franken who will be a strong voice for the middle class. It doesn’t matter how slick his opponents’ rhetoric is or how many elbows come his way. Al Franken won this debate for the same reason he’l win this election: he’s the candidate of the middle class, and the candidate of change.”

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After Original Press Release Denouncing Smears – Five Days Later Coleman Embraces Them

Coleman Employs Jeff Larson, Producer Of Attack Calls – And Today Campaigned With Rudy Giuliani, Who Voiced Them

SAINT PAUL [10/23/08] – Norm Coleman today endorsed attack robo-calls against Barack Obama voiced by Rudy Giuliani, who was campaigning for him here in Minnesota. Coleman’s closest advisor, Jeff Larson, has recently come under fire for producing these calls for the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee.

The Associated Press reports:

Giuliani and Coleman defended Giuliani’s recent recording of automated “robocalls” that are critical of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s lack of support for mandatory minimum prison sentences for some crimes.

LINK: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/33075504.html

Communications Director Andy Barr:

“It didn’t take long for Norm Coleman to reveal his true colors–he supports John McCain’s vicious smear attacks against Barack Obama. It’s not surprising that Coleman would defend this disgusting negative campaign, given that he continues to employ the same smear merchant who produced it and spent today campaigning with the politician who voiced some of the calls. What’s surprising is that, after nearly two weeks of phony posturing, Norm Coleman finally admitted his real position.”

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