AP Uncalls Minnesota Senate Race

WASHINGTON (AP) “The Associated Press is uncalling the Minnesota Senate race.

Republican Sen. Norm Coleman finished ahead of Democrat Al Franken early Wednesday in the final vote count, but his 571-vote margin falls within the state’s mandatory recount law. That law requires a recount any time the margin between the top two candidates is less than one-half of one percent.

The AP called the race prematurely.

Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said the recount won’t begin until mid-November at the earliest and will probably stretch into December. It will involve local election officials from around the state.

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SAINT PAUL [11/05/08] – U.S. Senate Candidate Al Franken:

The Secretary of State’s office reports that all but nine of Minnesota’s 4,130 precincts have reported in. And this race is too close to call, with a margin of just about 1100 votes out of 2.9 million cast. That’s four one-hundredths of one percent of the vote. And we expect that when those final nine precincts are counted this morning, that 1100-vote margin will shrink into the hundreds.

Under Minnesota state law, we will now enter into an automatic statewide canvass and recount. It will be the first one since 1962, when I was 11 years old. I remember that year very clearly for two reasons. The recount between Elmer L. Anderson and Karl Rolvaag. And the Gophers were in the Rose Bowl that year.

And we have twice as many ballots to count this time.

Let me be clear: Our goal is to ensure that every vote is properly counted.

The process, dictated by our laws, will be orderly, fair, and will take place within a matter of days. We won’t know for a little while who won this race, but at the end of the day, we will know that the voice of the electorate was clearly heard.

There is reason to believe that the recount could change the vote tallies significantly.

Our office and the Obama campaign have received reports of irregularities at various precincts around the state. For instance, some polling places in Minneapolis ran out of registration materials. Our team has been working on those issues for several hours already, and they will continue to do so this morning as the recount process begins.

Let me be clear: This race is too close to call, and we do not yet know who won. We are lucky enough to live in a state with built-in protections to ensure that in close elections like these, the will of the people is accurately reflected in the outcome.

This has been a long campaign, and it’s going to be a little longer before we have a winner. Senator Coleman, Senator Barkley, and I have done a lot of talking. Minnesotans have waited a long time to have THEIR say. And thanks to our state’s laws, we will eventually understand precisely what they have said.

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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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After an evening rally at Winona State University, Al spent Thursday with Congressman Tim Walz, Sen. Tarryl Clark and former Congressman Rick Nolan from the Obama campaign, barnstorming southern Minnesota to encourage DFL volunteers to work hard to Get-Out-The-Vote.

They started the day at a GOTV pancake breakfast in Rochester, flipping pancakes and encouraging folks to spend the next five days working hard to elect Barack Obama and the rest of the DFL ticket.

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This week, the Timberjay called for electing a Senator who will work with Barack Obama to bring change to Washington ­- Al Franken.

From their editorial:

Barack Obama promises change from an administration that has left the country reeling from an economic crisis, squandered thousands of lives and billions of dollars on an ill-conceived war in Iraq, and shredded Constitutional protections.

But if elected, Obama will need a supportive Congress to achieve meaningful reform. That means voters should not only replace Bush, but also remove those who enabled his administration.

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This was a big week on the campaign -we held a joint rally with the Obama campaign with President Bill Clinton. President Clinton fired up the thousands of DFLers in attendance and encouraged them to get out and volunteer to Get-Out-The-Vote in the last few days of the campaign to make sure that we elect Barack Obama to the White House and Al Franken to the U.S. Senate.

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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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This new memo examines Norm Coleman’s record, and some of the key numbers that have defined Coleman’s time in the Senate.

Does Norm Coleman deserve to be re-elected? The numbers tell the story:

• 52 free trips paid for by special interests.
• Over $600,000 from big oil and drug companies.
• Living almost rent-free in the $1,000,000 home of a Washington insider.
• Ranked the 4th most corrupt senator in Washington.
• Colman voted nearly 90% of the time with George Bush.
• Together running up a 10 trillion dollar national debt
• It’s time for Norm to go.

52 free trips paid for by special interests.

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