SAINT PAUL [10/17/08] – Somali American web magazine WardheerNews endorsed Al Franken for U.S. Senate this week, posting an endorsement editorial on their website.

Al Franken:

“I’m honored by this endorsement, and I’ll be proud to stand up for all Minnesotans in the Senate. I know that we need good jobs, good schools, and safe streets to keep our communities strong. And I know that, to change this country, we need to work together — all of us. Middle-class families need a new direction in Washington, and we’re building a coalition for change across Minnesota.”

Read more, including excerpts from the editorial, after the jump…

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SAINT PAUL [10/15/08] – The Al Franken for Senate campaign announced today that it raised over $4.4 million in the 3rd financial quarter of 2008, the strongest fundraising quarter in Minnesota history.

Communications Director Andy Barr:

“We’re incredibly proud of the people-powered grassroots machine that’s gotten us this far. And now that machine is ready to send Al Franken to Washington to change this country. This campaign isn’t funded by the special interests. It’s funded by small-dollar donations from people who want change. And Al won’t be a Senator for the special interests – he’ll be a Senator for Minnesota’s middle class.”

Q3 BY THE NUMBERS
Raised: $4,400,610.66
Average contribution: $59.38
New donors: 31,594
Raised on-line: $1,553,807.60

CYCLE-TO-DATE
Raised: $15,877,682.45
COH: $2,782,815.66
Donors: 134,970
MN Donors: 24,367
Raised on-line: $4,290,667.30

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Franken’s Economic Recovery Plan Includes New Proposal To Unfreeze Credit, Help Small Businesses Create Jobs

“Get To Work,” “Honest Differences” Put Franken’s Middle Class Agenda Front And Center

Saint Paul [10/15/08] – The Al Franken for Senate campaign today released two new television spots highlighting Al Franken’s strong message on middle-class economic issues. The ads began airing this morning and will run statewide.

Communications Director Andy Barr:

“The election comes down to a simple choice. Norm Coleman chose Bush economics over Minnesota’s middle class. And now Minnesotans have a chance to choose a new direction. In these ads, Al Franken lays out his plans to help the middle class: cut taxes for middle-class families, create jobs, bring real oversight to Wall Street, and work to put our economy back on track.”

Read the full release and see the ads after the jump…

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SAINT PAUL [10/14/08] – Joined by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D – N.D.) and two local small business owners, DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken today 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.

Franken unveiled the plan today at a news conference, joined by Dorgan and two local entrepreneurs. Mallard Teal is the owner of Payne Ave. Body Shop. A small business loan enabled him to renovate his storefront and expand his business. Mary Leonard is the owner of Chocolat Celeste. She applies for a seasonal loan each year to expand production and hire additional employees for the busy Christmas season–but this year, has been unable to acquire that capital.

Al Franken:

“George Bush and Norm Coleman just don’t get it: giveaways to the special interests and tax cuts for millionaire CEOs don’t create jobs. Small businesses create jobs. And while Washington rushed to bail out huge corporations on Wall Street, we’re going to lose jobs here in Minnesota if we don’t do something to unfreeze credit for our small businesses. My proposal will ensure that folks like Mallard and Bridget can continue to grow their operations and get our economy moving again.”

Read the full release after the jump…

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Thirty-Four Hours After Swearing Off Negative Campaigning, Negative Norm Returns In Attack-A-Thon

Pioneer Press Reports Coleman “Repeatedly Criticized” Opponents In Last Night’s Debate

Saint Paul [10/12/08] — Friday morning, Norm Coleman held a press conference and proudly announced that he would no longer engage in negative campaigning. He even skipped a McCain rally to personally dedicate himself to the noble task of removing any trace of negativity from his paid media. A new web ad showing Norm repeatedly attack his opponents at last night’s debate can be found here:
http://www.alfranken.com/content/video_detail/?id=76

“People need hope,” said Senator Coleman, “and a more positive campaign is a start.”

That promise lasted for approximately 34 hours.

In last night’s debate, Coleman attacked his opponents 28 of times. He attacked on energy. He attacked on Iran. He attacked on the economy. He attacked on health care. He attacked on Iraq. Ironically, he even attacked Al Franken for contributing to a “vitriolic partisan divide.”

Today, the Al Franken campaign released a new web video showing that Norm Coleman’s new “positive campaign” looks a lot like Norm Coleman’s old negative campaign.

Full release after the jump…

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SAINT PAUL, MN [10/11/08] – In the second of five Senate debates, Al Franken emerged victorious by successfully defining the fundamental choice in the race: more of the same economic policies that brought about the current crisis — or bold change to help Minnesota’s middle class. Franken highlighted his plans to create jobs in Minnesota by investing in infrastructure and renewable energy, cut taxes for the middle class, and make college more affordable – issues he has focused on every day during his campaign.

Communications Director Andy Barr:

“Minnesotans are tired of politics as usual — and they can’t afford more of the same failed economic policies that have defined the Bush-Coleman era. Voters are ready for change, and tonight they heard a clear choice. Al Franken is the candidate for Minnesotans who want energy independence, affordable health care, an economy that works for everyone, and, most importantly, a fundamental change from the special interest politics of today’s Washington. Norm Coleman has been in the pockets of George W. Bush and the special interests; Al Franken will be a Senator for Minnesota’s middle class. That message came through loud and clear tonight — and that’s why Al won the debate.”

Franken also produced a key moment of the debate tonight when he completely discredited Senator Coleman’s central theme of “working together to get things done” by exposing the role he’s pursuing as Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, one of the most partisan roles in Washington. If selected, Senator Coleman’s focus for the next two years will be on protecting incumbent Republicans by running the same negative and misleading attacks ads he’s decrying today to defeat Democrats across the country.

Franken may not have sounded like a typical Washington politician, but tonight’s strong performance demonstrated that he is ready to bring change to Washington as a United States Senator.

Franken effectively used the debate as an opportunity to hold Norm Coleman accountable for his record of voting with George W. Bush nearly 90 percent of the time, standing with special interests instead of standing up for Minnesotans, and supporting a $700 billion bailout for Wall Street on the backs of taxpayers. While Coleman and Dean Barkley defended their support of the bailout, Franken pledged a new direction when he is elected to the Senate. Franken will govern with the philosophy that economic success isn’t about short-term profits for Wall Street, but long-term security and prosperity for Main Street.

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SAINT PAUL [10/10/08] – Andy Barr, Communications Director:

“From the start, our campaign has focused on the change Minnesota needs. And we will continue to focus on our competing views of how our country has gone in the wrong direction, how we can curb the influence of special interests in Washington, and how we can get out of the tough economic situation we’re now in.

“Given that this week’s polls are clearly showing that Minnesotans are sick of Norm Coleman’s campaign of character assassination, today’s stunt rings as a cynical ploy designed to change the subject and avoid scrutiny of his own record. It’s like an arsonist burning down every house in the village and then asking to be named fire chief.

“It’s worth noting that even in his own statement, Norm Coleman makes it clear that he intends to continue attacking Al Franken. But we are proud of the campaign we’ve run, and we will remain focused on talking about the issues that matter to Minnesota and the change Al Franken wants to bring to Washington.”

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As Star Tribune and MPR Report Attack Ads Backfiring Against Coleman, Franken Campaign Releases New Spot Exposing The Truth

SAINT PAUL [10/09/08] – After media reports revealed that recent ads being run on Norm Coleman’s behalf were misrepresenting Al Franken’s tribute to the late Sen. Paul Wellstone in order to smear Franken, Franken’s campaign today released a new 60-second ad, “Disgrace.”

The ad features un-edited footage of Franken telling the same story about his friend Paul Wellstone that Coleman’s allies robbed of its context to create attack ads that have been called “false” and “among the most misleading” in the race.

Communications Director Andy Barr:

“Minnesotans are sick of Norm Coleman and the disgusting campaign to smear Al Franken. These lies are beneath the dignity of a United States Senator–and Norm Coleman should be ashamed of himself.”

Recent reports suggest that Coleman’s campaign of lies and personal attacks has backfired–with Minnesota Public Radio reporting that, by a 48%-21% margin, voters believe Coleman is primarily responsible for the negative campaign.

Full release after the jump…

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With Stock Market In Turmoil, Bush And Coleman’s Policies Would Have Cost Minnesota Seniors Their Financial Security

Franken Receives Endorsement Of National Committee To Preserve Social Security And Medicare – Joined By NCPSSM Executive Vice President Max Richtman And Local Seniors At News Conference

Coleman Supported Privatization, Opposed Cheaper Prescriptions – Minnesota Seniors Need New Leadership

SAINT PAUL [10/08/08] – With the stock market struggling in the wake of the Wall Street crisis, DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken today held a news conference with Rep. Betty McCollum, calling on Senator Norm Coleman to acknowledge that the Social Security privatization scheme supported by him and President Bush would have been a disaster for Minnesota seniors.

Franken was also joined by local seniors as well as Max Richtman, Executive Vice President of the National Committee To Preserve Social Security And Medicare, who conveyed the group’s endorsement.

Al Franken:

“Social Security is a critical promise we make to our parents, and to future generations – and it’s the foundation of financial security for many Minnesotans. But if George Bush and Norm Coleman had their way, that foundation would be crumbling beneath our feet. It’s time for Norm Coleman to admit that he has been just plain wrong on Social Security. And let’s not forget that he’s voted to let drug companies rip off Medicare to the tune of $30 billion a year. Minnesota seniors can’t trust Norm Coleman.”

Betty McCollum:

“Minnesota families are facing tough times — they need a champion in the Senate who will fight for them. That’s why I support Al Franken. Al is committed to fighting for middle-class tax cuts, more affordable college tuition, and policies that help Minnesota women balance work and family. Al’s opponent, Sen. Coleman, has been working for George Bush these past six years, not us. Al Franken will always put Minnesota first.”

Full release after the jump…

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Franken Challenges Coleman On Disastrous Plan That Would Take Away Insurance For Millions, Create New Tax, Primarily Benefit Insurance Companies

SAINT PAUL [10/06/08] – DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken today held a news conference calling on Norm Coleman to take a clear position on the health care plan of Republican nominee John McCain – a plan that would result in stripping as many as 20 million Americans of their health insurance, deregulating the insurance market, instituting the first-ever tax on health benefits, and removing important insurance protections currently in place for Minnesotans.

As many as 580,000 Minnesotans would lose their health insurance under McCain’s plan – and important guarantees like the right to have cancer screenings and childhood vaccinations covered could be threatened for Minnesotans who currently enjoy those protections.

Al Franken:

“I can say unequivocally that I will support Barack Obama’s plan. But John McCain’s health care policy would be a disaster for Americans. It would leave Minnesotans with worse health care than they have now by letting insurance companies run amok, instituting a new tax on health benefits, and potentially causing 580,000 Minnesotans to lose their insurance. Minnesotans deserve to know if Norm Coleman would stand up to this disastrous scheme in the event McCain becomes President.”

Full release after the jump…

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