Campaign '08

Democrats Call Coleman A 4-Letter Word -- Liar

(WCCO) Some pretty serious words are being hurled in the race for U.S. Senate. On Wednesday, Minnesota Democratic leaders made their opinion of some of Sen. Norm Coleman's recent comments crystal clear.

The issue is an obscure union organizing bill strongly opposed by business and Coleman. The alleged positions of both candidates have been seen in TV ads with a Sopranos character.

In response the Coleman's stance, Minnesota's Democratic Party isn't pulling any punches with a choice four-letter word for Coleman: liar.

"Don't make any mistake. It's not 'all but called him a liar'. I am calling him a liar. Not 'all but,'" said Brian Melendez of the Minnesota DFL Party.

Democrats say Coleman is lying about a bill making it easier for unions to organize. On Wednesday, Democratic leaders played video of Coleman telling voters the bill will take away the union's secret ballot.

"What it's about is taking away the right to secret ballot in a union election," Coleman said in the video the DFL played.

Democrats say Coleman is deliberately twisting the truth about the union organizing bill, which is part of a national business effort to kill it.

In response, Coleman's campaign was critical of the Democrat's harsh caricature of Coleman, warning of more to come.

"Al Franken has called Republicans every four-letter name in the book, in his books, in his shows, in his interviews. Minnesotans should prepare for a lot of mudslinging," said Mark Drake of the Coleman for Senate Campaign.

This is another salvo of what is already a tough senate campaign between Franken and Coleman.

However, what we're seeing here now is Democrats trying out a much tougher tone that could be a signal of what's ahead.

Minnesota's Senate race is among the most closely watched in the nation and is already the most expensive in America. It's been at full speed for many months, and only now we're seeing it get much more public.

 

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