A Night At The Congressional Races
Here's tonight's run-down of the Congressional races:
DSCC Ad: Coleman Refuses To Answer Questions About Lawsuit Allegations
The DSCC ad is closing out the Minnesota Senate race with this new TV ad calling GOP Sen. Norm Coleman flagrantly corrupt, focusing on last-minute lawsuits alleging that a donor funneled $75,000 to the Senator via his wife:
The most recent polling has shown the momentum swinging back to Coleman after a period in which Al Franken had taken the lead. But if the local news media ends up being focused in the last few days on corruption allegations against Coleman, it's possible that the undecideds and soft supporters of third-party candidate Dean Barkley could break to Franken.
Coleman Ad Fires Back, Accuses Franken Of Being Behind The Suit
Norm Coleman had his own ad, accusing Al Franken of being behind the lawsuits and conspiring to attack Coleman's wife:
"This time, Al Franken's crossed the line," Coleman says, his wife by his side. "My name's on the ballot -- I'm fair game for his ugly smears. My wife and family are not." The Franken campaign has strongly denied any involvement in the lawsuits.
SurveyUSA: "In Oregon, The Die Is Cast"
Add SurveyUSA to the list of pollsters that see things going very badly for Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR), who is believed to be trailing Democratic challenger Jeff Merkley in the early vote with over half of the total expected votes already cast. Instead of the detailed memo that is usually included in their poll releases, the latest numbers for Oregon are accompanied by just this one sentence: "In Oregon, the Die is Cast."
Three Days Before Election, McConnell Announces Multi-Million Dollar Project
Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (KY), who is facing an unexpectedly close challenge from Democratic businessman Bruce Lunsford, has announced that he has secured $75 million for a new veterans hospital in Louisville. McConnell denied that the timing of the announcement was tied to the election: "The business of government doesn't stop when a campaign's going on. This is a breaking development of enormous proportions."
Bachmann And Tinklenberg Both Rake In Cash After Her Hardball Fiasco
Rep. Michele Bachmann's campaign has received $850,000 from conservative supporters since her McCarthyist rant on Hardball two weeks ago, boosting her campaign machine for the tough fight that the remarks themselves landed her in. Also, the campaign of her Democratic opponent El Tinklenberg has told Election Central that their current post-Hardball tally is nearly $2 million in money coming in from people across the country.
GOP House Candidate Admits He Hacked Employer's Computer, Was Fired
House candidate Chris Lee (R-NY), who is running ahead in the polls for a competitive GOP-held House seat in Upstate New York, has admitted that he was fired from a computer-sales job in 1989 for what he called "a serious mistake." Lee is accused of hacking his then-employers' computer system and raising the credit limit on certain customers in order to sell them more products. Lee says the "mistake" was 20 years ago, and he learned from it and went on to be a successful businessman in his own right.
Hagan Ad: Dole A Desperate Liar, "Worse Than Dishonest"
Senate candidate Kay Hagan (D-NC) has this new a against incumbent GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole, firing back at Dole's attack ads that have questioned Hagan's Christianity, and tying it together with Dole being a liar on other issues:
"Newspapers are condemning Elizabeth Dole's shameful attacks: "A lie born of Dole's desperation"; "Worse than dishonest," the announcer says. "And now, new lies about Kay Hagan's immigration record."
O/T ---- Even Peru is going all out for an Obama win. A group of Peruvian shamans performed a dramatic ritual to assure Obama's success (maybe they're liberal shamans):
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/10/31/vo.peru.shamans.ap
November 1, 2008 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Norm Coleman is such a weenie.
He better go down, or I'll kick the ass of my Minnesota friends. ;)
November 1, 2008 6:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, Colemans absentee wife actually flew in from California to do an ad with him? Must be crunch time.
November 1, 2008 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course his wife flies in for this one. She's the one getting hammered in the lawsuit, and she needs Norm's help to make it go away.
I don't get the concept of how it's Al's fault the lawsuit got filed.
John
November 1, 2008 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Al also doesn't get how it's his fault. This is his press conference: http://minnesotaindependent.com/15788/livestream-franken-responds-to-coleman-lawsuit
November 2, 2008 1:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
And by the way, as a Minnesotan watching Minnesota media intensely, Coleman has yet to offer a shred of proof that Frnaken is behind it. Coleman might be telling the truth about the allegatiosn in the lawsuit, but his accusation against Franken is a lie in that he has no way to know if Franken is behind it, and it looks like Frnaken isn't.
November 2, 2008 1:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Coleman is as bad an actor as his wife.
November 1, 2008 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, those CGI special effects are getting so good it's impossible to tell if Norm Coleman's wife is actually in the same room with Norm this time.
November 1, 2008 7:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Same room, she's usually not on the same coast.
November 1, 2008 7:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
With the volume turned down, Coleman's wife looks as if a stricken spouse while her husband is apologizing to the public for his affair or something...
November 1, 2008 8:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
If she wants to stay out of the fray, shouldn't she stay out of the commercial?
November 2, 2008 12:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
3 days before election day, Sen. GOP Leader Mitch McConnell in trouble in his re-election, announces a $75M earmark for a new VA Hospital in KY - I wonder if he understands John McCain has already pledged to veto every earmark that crosses his desk? I guess it's possible McConnell could get it included in an infrastructure stimulus bill in a lame duck session, but unless there is a clear need for the hospital, I don't think what Mitch wants is going to have much pull in DC after Tuesday.
November 2, 2008 7:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the best part - McConnell has announced that same $75 million three times this year alone. Two years ago, Anne Northup announced that same $75 million in a desperate and futile attempt to save her campaign for re-election.
That VA hospital should have at least $300 million banked by now.
November 2, 2008 9:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
At the top you saw the new Norm Coleman ad...you can always tell when Norm is lying; he gets that pained, worried look on his face. Of course, he has that look most of the time....hmmmmm.....
This afternoon, several DFL leaders had a press conference on the steps of the State Capitol to denounce the new Coleman Smear Ad
(source: MN DFL party press release, just out).
Cong. Keith Ellison, State Auditor Rebecca Otto, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman call on Norm Coleman to offer Minnesotans straight answers after sworn testimony alleges effort to funnel money.
Minnesota elected leaders demand that Norm Coleman provide evidence for allegations against Al Franken, or pull new ad and apologize
Earlier this afternoon, a variety of Minnesota elected officials held a press conference to denounce Senator Norm Coleman’s new ad in which Coleman falsely — and without any evidence — accuses DFL challenger Al Franken of involvement in lawsuits that allege that a close Coleman ally arranged to funnel up to $100,000 to Coleman.
Elected leaders attending the press conference on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol — United States Representative Keith Ellison, State Auditor Rebecca Otto, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark and Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman — demanded that Coleman produce evidence for his claim against Franken, or pull the ad and apologize to Minnesotans for smearing him.
In addition, they called on Senator Coleman to offer Minnesotans some thorough, candid answers to the allegations before Minnesotans go to the polls on Tuesday.
United States Representative Keith Ellison (MN-05) made the following remarks:
“To all appearances, Coleman got caught with his hand seriously in the cookie jar, and is now desperately trying to deflect blame by smearing Al Franken. If Coleman has proof that Al has any involvement in the lawsuit, he should produce it immediately for the public to see. But if has no proof to produce — as seems clearly to be the case — he should take the ad down and issue an apology to Al Franken and the citizens of Minnesota. Coleman, who has already waged a gutter campaign, has now sunk to an astonishing new low.”
Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto said:
“As difficult as this situation may be for Norm Coleman, accusing Al Franken and Democrats of wrongdoing — when he has produced absolutely evidence to support that claim — is straight out of Karl Rove’s playbook. Norm Coleman must either back it up with evidence or apologize to the people of Minnesota.”
Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher commented:
“This morning, Governor Pawlenty took Al Franken at his word, agreeing with the seven independent news organizations that have found that Franken has nothing to do with the serious allegations that have been leveled against Senator Coleman. And I agree with the governor: this election should be about jobs, taxes and the economy. Senator Coleman, however, has once again attempted to distract Minnesotans from these pressing issues with an utterly baseless attack on Al Franken, who has been connecting with them on solutions to fixing the economy and restoring middle-class prosperity.
“I call on Senator Coleman to stop with the last-minute antics and, if he cannot prove his claim that Al Franken had something to do with these lawsuits, to pull his ad down. There are only two days left for Minnesotans to make an informed decision, so Senator Coleman must level with them now about what has really happened here.”
Minnesota State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark said:
“This advertisement is beneath the dignity of a United States senator. If Norm Coleman has any evidence whatsoever that his political opponents had anything to do with this lawsuit, let him produce that evidence immediately. Otherwise, he must immediately pull the ad down, apologize, publicly retract his threatened lawsuit and above all, come clean with Minnesotans about the serious charges contained in the sworn affidavit.
“This campaign has been a slugfest, but that slugfest does not justify hitting below the belt, as Norm Coleman has done here.”
Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman made the following comments:
“Norm Coleman put an ad on TV yesterday claiming Al Franken is behind the lawsuit alleging that Nasser Kazeminy tried to funnel $100,000 to Senator Coleman. But Senator Coleman hasn't produced a shred of evidence to tie Al to this lawsuit.
“Senator Coleman is falsely accusing Al Franken of involvement in this sordid matter. This is a blatant attempt to muddy the waters on the eve of the election, and Norm either needs to prove his allegations, or take the ad down and apologize.”
Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak, who could not attend the press conference due to illness, contributed this statement:
“When serious questions are raised in the course of a campaign, voters deserve politicians who look them in the eye and make their case. Norm Coleman shouldn’t pass blame for his actions — he should look Minnesotans in the eye, make a truthful case for himself and not hide behind false accusations about Al Franken. Only then will voters have a sound basis on which to make their choice on Tuesday.”
The party press release also quoted local news organizations in support of the fact that Coleman made the allegations against Franken without any proof:
Star Tribune: Coleman Offered No Proof Of Any Connection To Franken Or Anyone In The Democratic Party. “Coleman offered no proof of any connection between the lawsuit, filed by a Republican businessman in Texas earlier this week, and either Franken or anyone in the Democratic Party.” [Star Tribune, 11/2/08]
Karla Hult (KARE-TV): “When Pressed For Proof, The Coleman Campaign Failed To Provide Any.” On the 10pm news on November 1, KARE-11’s Karla Hult reported, “ The Republican’s campaign is instead making charges of their own alleging democratic candidate Al Franken is behind the suit and the publicity surrounding it.” Hult continued, “But when pressed for proof the Coleman campaign has failed to provide any.” [KARE-TV, 10pm News, 11/1/08]
Esme Murphy (WCCO): “There Is Absolutely No Evidence, None, That Al Franken Or Anyone Associated With His Campaign Is Behind The Two Lawsuits. “Norm Coleman is accusing Al Franken of smearing his wife. The problem is there is absolutely no evidence, none, that Al Franken or anyone associated with his campaign is behind the two lawsuits that allege that a top Coleman campaign donor funneled 75,000 dollar to the Senator's wife Laurie. If there was evidence of a direct link it would be a helluva story.” [Esme Murphy, WCCO’s “Esme’s Blog,” 11/1/08]
MinnPost: There Is Zero Proof That Franken Had Anything To Do With “Donor Gate.” “There is zero proof that Franken had anything to do with DonorGate, which the Pioneer Press noted today. The Coleman campaign has provided nothing indicating otherwise.” [MinnPost, 11/1/08]
St. Paul Pioneer Press: Coleman Campaign Did Not Offer Any Evidence Franken Or Democrats Are Behind The Lawsuit. “Asked by reporters Saturday, Coleman campaign manager Cullen Sheehan didn't offer any direct evidence that Democratic Senate candidate Franken or Democrats are behind the lawsuit,” [Pioneer Press, 11/1/08]
Associated Press: Despite Requests, Coleman Campaign Has Not Produced Evidence Of Franken’s Involvement. “Despite requests, Coleman campaign manager Cullen Sheehan didn't produce hard evidence of Franken's involvement.” [AP, 11/1/08]
Jody Ambroz (KMSP-TV): Coleman Campaign Won't Release Any Evidence Showing A Connection Between The Franken Campaign And The Lawsuit. "Coleman's campaign continues to make these accusations against the DFL but they won't release any evidence showing a connection between the party or the Franken campaign and the lawsuit." [KMSP-TV, 6pm News, 11/1/08]
(back to me now)
The final Senate debate is tonight at 7:00 Central time on Minnesota Public Radio - it will be interesting to see how this is handled.
Don Jorovsky
November 2, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
At the top you saw the new Norm Coleman ad...you can always tell when Norm is lying; he gets that pained, worried look on his face. Of course, he has that look most of the time....hmmmmm.....
This afternoon, several DFL leaders had a press conference on the steps of the State Capitol to denounce the new Coleman Smear Ad
(source: MN DFL party press release, just out).
Cong. Keith Ellison, State Auditor Rebecca Otto, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman call on Norm Coleman to offer Minnesotans straight answers after sworn testimony alleges effort to funnel money.
Minnesota elected leaders demand that Norm Coleman provide evidence for allegations against Al Franken, or pull new ad and apologize
Earlier this afternoon, a variety of Minnesota elected officials held a press conference to denounce Senator Norm Coleman’s new ad in which Coleman falsely — and without any evidence — accuses DFL challenger Al Franken of involvement in lawsuits that allege that a close Coleman ally arranged to funnel up to $100,000 to Coleman.
Elected leaders attending the press conference on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol — United States Representative Keith Ellison, State Auditor Rebecca Otto, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark and Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman — demanded that Coleman produce evidence for his claim against Franken, or pull the ad and apologize to Minnesotans for smearing him.
In addition, they called on Senator Coleman to offer Minnesotans some thorough, candid answers to the allegations before Minnesotans go to the polls on Tuesday.
United States Representative Keith Ellison (MN-05) made the following remarks:
“To all appearances, Coleman got caught with his hand seriously in the cookie jar, and is now desperately trying to deflect blame by smearing Al Franken. If Coleman has proof that Al has any involvement in the lawsuit, he should produce it immediately for the public to see. But if has no proof to produce — as seems clearly to be the case — he should take the ad down and issue an apology to Al Franken and the citizens of Minnesota. Coleman, who has already waged a gutter campaign, has now sunk to an astonishing new low.”
Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto said:
“As difficult as this situation may be for Norm Coleman, accusing Al Franken and Democrats of wrongdoing — when he has produced absolutely evidence to support that claim — is straight out of Karl Rove’s playbook. Norm Coleman must either back it up with evidence or apologize to the people of Minnesota.”
Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher commented:
“This morning, Governor Pawlenty took Al Franken at his word, agreeing with the seven independent news organizations that have found that Franken has nothing to do with the serious allegations that have been leveled against Senator Coleman. And I agree with the governor: this election should be about jobs, taxes and the economy. Senator Coleman, however, has once again attempted to distract Minnesotans from these pressing issues with an utterly baseless attack on Al Franken, who has been connecting with them on solutions to fixing the economy and restoring middle-class prosperity.
“I call on Senator Coleman to stop with the last-minute antics and, if he cannot prove his claim that Al Franken had something to do with these lawsuits, to pull his ad down. There are only two days left for Minnesotans to make an informed decision, so Senator Coleman must level with them now about what has really happened here.”
Minnesota State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark said:
“This advertisement is beneath the dignity of a United States senator. If Norm Coleman has any evidence whatsoever that his political opponents had anything to do with this lawsuit, let him produce that evidence immediately. Otherwise, he must immediately pull the ad down, apologize, publicly retract his threatened lawsuit and above all, come clean with Minnesotans about the serious charges contained in the sworn affidavit.
“This campaign has been a slugfest, but that slugfest does not justify hitting below the belt, as Norm Coleman has done here.”
Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman made the following comments:
“Norm Coleman put an ad on TV yesterday claiming Al Franken is behind the lawsuit alleging that Nasser Kazeminy tried to funnel $100,000 to Senator Coleman. But Senator Coleman hasn't produced a shred of evidence to tie Al to this lawsuit.
“Senator Coleman is falsely accusing Al Franken of involvement in this sordid matter. This is a blatant attempt to muddy the waters on the eve of the election, and Norm either needs to prove his allegations, or take the ad down and apologize.”
Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak, who could not attend the press conference due to illness, contributed this statement:
“When serious questions are raised in the course of a campaign, voters deserve politicians who look them in the eye and make their case. Norm Coleman shouldn’t pass blame for his actions — he should look Minnesotans in the eye, make a truthful case for himself and not hide behind false accusations about Al Franken. Only then will voters have a sound basis on which to make their choice on Tuesday.”
The party press release also quoted local news organizations in support of the fact that Coleman made the allegations against Franken without any proof:
Star Tribune: Coleman Offered No Proof Of Any Connection To Franken Or Anyone In The Democratic Party. “Coleman offered no proof of any connection between the lawsuit, filed by a Republican businessman in Texas earlier this week, and either Franken or anyone in the Democratic Party.” [Star Tribune, 11/2/08]
Karla Hult (KARE-TV): “When Pressed For Proof, The Coleman Campaign Failed To Provide Any.” On the 10pm news on November 1, KARE-11’s Karla Hult reported, “ The Republican’s campaign is instead making charges of their own alleging democratic candidate Al Franken is behind the suit and the publicity surrounding it.” Hult continued, “But when pressed for proof the Coleman campaign has failed to provide any.” [KARE-TV, 10pm News, 11/1/08]
Esme Murphy (WCCO): “There Is Absolutely No Evidence, None, That Al Franken Or Anyone Associated With His Campaign Is Behind The Two Lawsuits. “Norm Coleman is accusing Al Franken of smearing his wife. The problem is there is absolutely no evidence, none, that Al Franken or anyone associated with his campaign is behind the two lawsuits that allege that a top Coleman campaign donor funneled 75,000 dollar to the Senator's wife Laurie. If there was evidence of a direct link it would be a helluva story.” [Esme Murphy, WCCO’s “Esme’s Blog,” 11/1/08]
MinnPost: There Is Zero Proof That Franken Had Anything To Do With “Donor Gate.” “There is zero proof that Franken had anything to do with DonorGate, which the Pioneer Press noted today. The Coleman campaign has provided nothing indicating otherwise.” [MinnPost, 11/1/08]
St. Paul Pioneer Press: Coleman Campaign Did Not Offer Any Evidence Franken Or Democrats Are Behind The Lawsuit. “Asked by reporters Saturday, Coleman campaign manager Cullen Sheehan didn't offer any direct evidence that Democratic Senate candidate Franken or Democrats are behind the lawsuit,” [Pioneer Press, 11/1/08]
Associated Press: Despite Requests, Coleman Campaign Has Not Produced Evidence Of Franken’s Involvement. “Despite requests, Coleman campaign manager Cullen Sheehan didn't produce hard evidence of Franken's involvement.” [AP, 11/1/08]
Jody Ambroz (KMSP-TV): Coleman Campaign Won't Release Any Evidence Showing A Connection Between The Franken Campaign And The Lawsuit. "Coleman's campaign continues to make these accusations against the DFL but they won't release any evidence showing a connection between the party or the Franken campaign and the lawsuit." [KMSP-TV, 6pm News, 11/1/08]
(back to me now)
The final Senate debate is tonight at 7:00 Central time on Minnesota Public Radio - it will be interesting to see how this is handled.
Don Jorovsky
November 2, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ouch! sorry for double-posting a long message.
The first time, it said "sorry - try again" so I hit it again.
November 2, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink