Jun 9, 2008 5:52 pm US/Central
Franken Campaign Eager To Draw Bush-Coleman Link
ST. PAUL (AP) ―
Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken opened the next phase of his campaign to unseat Republican Norm Coleman by hammering the senator on his past allegiance to President Bush.
Franken appeared at a state Capitol rally Monday with several top Democrats and congressional candidates, exchanging handshakes and pleasantries with some who hadn't been behind him until after he won his party's endorsement last weekend.
Franken is staging a week-long tour of Minnesota.
The humorist who made it big on "Saturday Night Live" said he expects Republicans to use his past off-color material against him. But Franken said he'll be reminding voters of Coleman's support for an increasingly unpopular White House on war and economic policies.
"George Bush isn't on the ballot, but Norm Coleman should be accountable for what he's done in the last six years," Franken said. "What he's done in the last six years is given Bush a blank check for pretty much everything."
Coleman campaign manager Cullen Sheehan sidestepped questions about whether the first-term senator wants to campaign with Bush at his side this fall. Bush has helped raise money for Coleman.
"The focus needs to be on the two guys running for office and their records," Sheehan said.
Both candidates have millions of dollars in their campaign accounts, which means a sure barrage of television ads over the next five months. There will also be debates, although none has been scheduled.
"I'll be very happy to debate him as often as he likes," Franken said.
Meanwhile, most Democratic members of the Minnesota congressional delegation are lining up behind Franken. A notable exception is Rep. Betty McCollum, who led the criticism of a racy column that Franken had written for Playboy magazine in 2000. McCollum had supported Franken rival Mike Ciresi until he dropped out of the race a few months ago.
"Congresswoman McCollum looks forward to meeting in the coming weeks with Mr. Franken to learn more about his campaign," said her chief of staff, Bill Harper. "The congresswoman's priorities are winning re-election and electing Senator (Barack) Obama to the White House."
Four of the state's five other Democratic members of Congress, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar, had joined McCollum in recent weeks criticizing Franken's past writings, but all four are now backing the Senate candidate.
The fifth, Collin Peterson, backed Franken on Monday after being silent on the controversy about the Playboy piece.
"It is what it is, and he apologized for it," Peterson said in a telephone interview. "Franken's a good guy. He's working hard, his heart's in the right place."
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