Everett, Wash.
Published: Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Senate seat goes to Al Franken

Associated Press

 ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Al Franken ascended Tuesday from the ranks of former "Saturday Night Live" comedians to an even more exclusive club, outlasting Republican Norm Coleman in an eight-month recount and courtroom saga to win a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Franken's victory gives Democrats control of 60 seats in the Senate -- the critical number needed to overcome Republican filibusters. When the 58-year-old Franken is seated, which could come as early as next week, his party will have a majority not reached on either side of the aisle in about three decades.

"When you win an election this close, you know not one bit of effort went to waste," Franken said. "The way I see it, I'm not going to Washington to be the 60th Democratic senator, I'm going to Washington to be the second senator from Minnesota."

Coleman conceded the election hours after a unanimous state Supreme Court ruled that Franken should be certified the winner. In doing so, he pulled the plug on a bitter election that was ultimately decided by 312 votes out of nearly 2.9 million cast.

Franken became popular in 1980s "SNL" skits in which he mocked politicians, portrayed the self-affirming Stuart Smalley and pranced around in little more than a Speedo. His career evolved in the 1990s with books harpooning Rush Limbaugh, and he later gained a liberal following as a radio show host on the "Air America" network.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA