Coleman Franken Debate Gets Nasty As Election Looms
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Months of tension between Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and his Democratic rival, Al Franken, spilled into their last debate Sunday night as they traded heated accusations about allegations made in a lawsuit against the incumbent.
It started immediately, as Coleman denied taking money or gifts from supporters without disclosing it. That charge stems from sworn statements in a lawsuit filed last week in Texas, claiming Coleman's friend and donor Nasser Kazeminy funneled $75,000 to a business that employs Coleman's wife in order to enrich the senator.
"The answer is no," Coleman said when asked whether the allegations were true. He then swung back to his claim that Franken is responsible for a TV ad about the allegations, which shows a clip of reporters asking Coleman about the alleged payments to his wife's employer and which the senator said defames her. Franken's campaign isn't running the ad, which is paid for by Democrats in Washington.
"You have an ad that's defaming my wife," Coleman said. "I think there's a line in this business. You can take any shot you want at the candidate. Mr. Franken, rather than rejecting it, is promoting it."
Franken replied that Coleman must answer questions about the allegations _ and rejected the idea that discussion of it is an attack on Laurie Coleman.
"This is not about Norm Coleman's wife," Franken said. "This is about Sen. Coleman's political sugar daddy."
But that didn't end the recriminations between Coleman and Franken. For the first time after five debates, Coleman personally criticized Franken on an issue other Republicans hammered for months _ that statements and writings in his previous careers as a comedian and writer betrayed an angry sensibility unsuited to the U.S. Senate.
"I think folks have a right to look at the character, to look at the record," Coleman said. "Jokes about rape, is that a line? Writing pornography for Playboy, is that a line? Calling a Supreme Court justice sexist, is that a line?"
The sniping between Coleman and Franken left a wide opening for the Independence Party's Dean Barkley, who presented his third-place candidacy as an alternative for voters tired of what he called "the most negative campaign in Minnesota's history."
"I ask people, do you think either Al or Norm will change the way Washington works?" Barkley said. "That's a question you have to ask yourself."
Once the candidates got down to issues, they staked out what has become familiar turf in the past few weeks of the campaign. Asked their top priority if they were elected, each candidate had a different answer.
Franken said his main goal would be "getting the economy back on track." Coleman said he wanted to be a part of changing the divisive tone in Washington and accomplishing common goals.
Barkley, who managed Jesse Ventura's shockingly successful campaign for governor in 1998, warned that the country needed to rein in spending. He noted that in all of his past runs for elected office, dating to 1992, he has warned of the dangers of a spiraling deficit.
Loading comments…
PATRICK CONDON | November 2, 2008 11:56 PM EST |
Compare other versions »Compare and versions