The Democratic candidate for Senate in Minnesota, Al Franken, will pay a visit to Washington D.C. this week to meet with the Democrat party caucus to discuss the upcoming statewide recount and get an update on upcoming legislation, despite not being declared a winner in his race against incumbent Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN).
The Star Tribune reports:
Although he doesn’t have a seat, Al Franken will have the floor Tuesday when he meets with Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate.
Franken, who is locked in a mandatory recount of the Nov. 4 balloting with Republican incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman, will update Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and others on the recount process, said his spokeswoman, Colleen Murray.
The Senate leaders and the candidate also will talk about upcoming legislation, she said.
“If he should win this election, it would be irresponsible for him not to get ready to take office,” she said. “Minnesota deserves a senator who is ready to take office on Day One.”
Franken will not, however, attend an orientation for new members of the Senate. A communications director for the Coleman campaign was quoted in the article as saying that it is “highly presumptuous for Mr. Franken to undertake such a visit when his real purpose appears to be fundraising and gaining partisan advantage from non-Minnesotans.”
Coleman leads by just over 200 votes. A final recount tally could be completed by December 19 according to the article depending upon what, if anything, happens in court.
