Norm Coleman Invokes Specter in Fundraising Plea
Even though things don’t look so good for former Sen. Norm Coleman’s (R-Minn.) bid to keep Al Franken from being seated as Minnesota’s junior senator, Coleman’s still out there trying to raise money to pay his legal bills to keep Franken in the courts and out of Washington. In his latest request for campaign donations, Coleman pointed to fellow party-switcher Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) as the latest reason his supporters should kick in some cash.
Over at TWI’s sister site, The Minnesota Independent, Paul Schmelzer has the details:
“„Coleman — who started out his political life as a Democrat, even “proudly proclaim[ing]” his support for Bill Clinton in 1996, before becoming a Republican — states in a new direct-mail appeal that Specter’s recent change of ID from R to D makes the outcome of the Minnesota Senate race even more important. The Pennsylvania senator’s switch means Democrats are one vote away from a “filibuster-proof liberal majority” and “total, complete, unchecked power,” Roll Call reports (subscription only).
“„“The stakes have never been this high,” Coleman writes. “Our ability to overturn this flawed recount process — and preserve checks and balances against the near total control of our government by [President Barack] Obama and the Democrats — rests in your hands.”
“„Funds raised will go toward Coleman’s ongoing legal challenge in the still disputed 2008 race against Al Franken.
However, if potential contributors are only interested in prolonging the court battle to keep Franken from being seated, they might want to hold out. Coleman has requested permission from the Federal Election Commission to use campaign funds for an entirely separate set of legal fees — related to a federal investigation of a campaign donor who allegedly funneled $75,000 in unreported payments to Coleman’s wife.
