DNC Airs Radio Ad Calling on Norm Coleman to Put the People of Minnesota Ahead of His Political Ambition and Concede Senate Race to Winner Al Franken

DNC Airs Radio Ad Calling on Norm Coleman to Put the People of Minnesota Ahead of His Political Ambition and Concede Senate Race to Winner Al Franken

WASHINGTON, April 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Democratic National Committee announced it will begin running a radio ad in Minneapolis/St. Paul calling on Norm Coleman to concede the Minnesota Senate race to Democrat Al Franken. The ad will run on news talk radio stations in the Twin Cities and comes one day after a three judge panel in Minnesota decisively and overwhelmingly declared Franken the winner of the contested race and said he was entitled to an election certificate.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/DNCLOGO )

But instead of conceding, Coleman continues to put his political ambition ahead of what's right for Minnesotans who deserve full representation in the U.S. Senate. Despite what analysts and many have called a hopeless cause, Coleman is vowing to continue his appeals and legal challenges and cause further delay in seating the rightful winner in the race, Al Franken.

"Enough is enough," said DNC Chairman Tim Kaine. "Al Franken won the election, the recount and now the legal challenge where his lead actually grew. Minnesota deserves two Senators and the people of America deserve 100 in the U.S. Senate. More importantly, the voters who cast ballots on Election Day deserve to have their verdict stand. Senator Coleman should not put his political ambition ahead of the will of the people. It's time for Norm Coleman to concede and for Al Franken to be sworn in as the next U.S. Senator from Minnesota. If Mr. Coleman won't concede, state officials should issue an election certificate to Al Franken, as the three judge panel said he is entitled to, so he can be sworn in immediately."

To listen to the ad, click here:

http://www.democrats.org/page/-/audio/DNC_MN_Radio_Ad_04_15_09.mp3

Script below:

Coleman Radio Ad

DNC Ad, 4/14/09

Script: ANNC: "The November 4, 2008 election was conducted fairly, impartially, and accurately."

ANNC: "Franken received the highest number of lawfully cast ballots in the November 4, 2008 general election for United States Senator for the State of Minnesota and is entitled to receive the certificate of election."

ANNC: That's what a three judge panel said when it declared Al Franken the winner of the U.S. Senate race.

Backup: MN Three Judge Panel: "The November 4, 2008 Election Was Conducted Fairly, Impartially And Accurately." "The overwhelming weight of the evidence indicates that the Nov. 4, 2008, election was conducted fairly, impartially and accurately," the panel said in its unanimous decision. [Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 4/14/09, http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/42932907.html?elr=KArks:DC iUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs]

MN Three Judge Panel: Franken "Received The Highest Number Of Votes Legally Cast" In The Election And "Is Therefore Entitled To Receive The Certificate Of Election." The panel concluded that Franken, a DFLer, "received the highest number of votes legally cast" in the election. Franken emerged from the trial with a 312-vote lead, the court ruled, and "is therefore entitled to receive the certificate of election." [Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 4/14/09, http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/42932907.html?elr=KArks:DC iUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs]

Minneapolis Star-Tribune Headline: "Judges Rule Franken Winner." [Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 4/14/09, http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/42932907.html?elr=KArks:DC iUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs]

Script: ANNC: Franken won the election in November, he won the recount and now he has won a legal challenge filed by Norm Coleman.

Backup: MN Three Judge Panel: Franken "Received The Highest Number Of Votes Legally Cast" In The Election And "Is Therefore Entitled To Receive The Certificate Of Election." The panel concluded that Franken, a DFLer, "received the highest number of votes legally cast" in the election. Franken emerged from the trial with a 312-vote lead, the court ruled, and "is therefore entitled to receive the certificate of election." [Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 4/14/09, http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/42932907.html?elr=KArks:DC iUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs]

Minneapolis Star-Tribune Headline: "Judges Rule Franken Winner." [Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 4/14/09, http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/42932907.html?elr=KArks:DC iUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs]

January 2009: MN State Canvassing Board Certified The Results Of The Recount In Favor Of Franken. "Democrat Al Franken declared victory in the hotly contested Minnesota Senate race Monday, saying the win is 'incredibly humbling.' The Minnesota State Canvassing Board on Monday certified the results of the recount of Republican Sen. Norm Coleman's fight to retain his seat against Franken. The results showed Franken with a 225-vote lead." [CNN, 1/6/09, http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/05/minnesota.recount/index.html]

Script: ANNC: Yet Coleman, and national Republicans who want to thwart the will of the voters, have vowed to file more appeals and hopeless legal challenges that will only result in more delay.

ANNC: Enough is enough. America is in an economic crisis - and Minnesota faces unique challenges of its own.

ANNC: Minnesota deserves two Senators and voters deserve to have their verdict stand without delay.

ANNC: Call Norm Coleman at 651-645-0766. Tell him that it is time to concede.

ANNC: Tell Norm Coleman to stop putting his political ambition ahead of what is right for Minnesota.

ANNC: The Democratic National Committee is Responsible for the Content of this advertising.

Backup: Coleman Campaign Reiterated That Coleman Will Be Appealing The Court's Ruling Declaring Al Franken The Winner Of The Senate Race. "Next stop for Norm Coleman: the Minnesota Supreme Court. Coleman's campaign attorney Ben Ginsberg reiterated that Coleman will be appealing the court's ruling declaring Al Franken the winner of the Minnesota Senate race to the state Supreme Court and accused the court of misunderstanding 'a number of issues as well as what's at stake in the case.' 'Let me reiterate what we have said: Senator Coleman and [Coleman spokesman] Cullen Sheehan will be appealing this decision from the three-judge panel,' Ginsberg said on a conference call this afternoon. Ginsberg said that he will be filing the appeal to the state Supreme Court 'within the 10-day-period' allotted to the campaign." [Politico, 4/14/09, http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0409/Coleman_appealing_court_decision. html]

Pawlenty Refused To Ask Coleman To Step Aside If He Lost And Said A Result Would Take A "Few More Months." O'DONNELL: "If this three-judge panel tomorrow, after counting these ballots, says that Al Franken has the lead, will you sign the election certificate that makes him Senator Al Franken?" GOV. PAWLENTY: "The Minnesota Supreme Court said, in a recent decision, that a certificate shouldn't issue or -- isn't likely that it should issue until the state court process has run its course. That would include the appellate process. It's pretty clear one side or the other's going to take that next step and it wouldn't be appropriate for me or anyone else to step in front of it. It's frustrating that this is taking so long. But we need a proper and just and accurate and legal result and it looks look it's going to take a few more months to get that." [MSNBC, 4/6/09]

Sen. Cornyn Said That The Coleman-Franken Battle Could Rage For Years And Sen. McConnell Said That The Court's Decisions "Leaves No Other Choice But To Continue The Process To Ensure That Every Legal Vote Is Counted." "Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told POLITICO the Coleman-Franken legal battle could rage for years. On Thursday, Cornyn chalked up the Democratic attacks to 'saber rattling.' 'I think maybe it's possible that the litigation concludes [and] there is a clear answer that's been decided in court by an impartial tribunal,' the Texas Republican said, 'and everybody can just put their guns on their table and walk away.' ... Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) issued a statement backing Coleman, saying, 'The court's decision in Minnesota leaves no other choice but to continue the process to ensure that every legal vote is counted.'" [Politico, 4/3/09, http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/20835_Page2.html]

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/DNCLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Democratic National Committee

CONTACT: Caroline Ciccone, or Megan Jacobs, both at +1-202-255-9759

Web Site: http://www.democrats.org/

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