“It has been a remarkable couple of months. Our recount brought national attention to Minnesota, and what Americans saw is that we take our democracy seriously. Our recount process was long, it was fair, and it was thorough. We should all be proud of our state, and we should all be grateful for the incredible hard work and dedication of all of our elections officials, from the state canvassing board and the Secretary of State’s office to the officials in the cities and counties and precincts of Minnesota.
“After 62 days, after the careful and painstaking hand inspection of nearly 3 million ballots, after hours and hours of hard work by elections officials and volunteers across the state, I am proud and humbled to stand before you as the next Senator from Minnesota.
“This victory is incredibly humbling - not just because it was so narrow, but because of the tremendous responsibility it gives me on behalf of the people of Minnesota.
“While the recount process played out, the challenges facing our state and our nation have only grown. With tensions in the Middle East reaching the boiling point, our economy facing its worst crisis since the 1930s, and Minnesota’s middle class families being squeezed harder than ever, it’s clear that we have a lot of important work to do.
“I want you all to know that I’m ready to go to Washington and get to work just as soon as possible. And I look forward to joining President-Elect Obama and Senator Klobuchar in getting our country moving in the right direction again.
“I know this is not an easy day for Norm Coleman and his family, and I know that because Franni and I and the kids have had plenty of time over the past two months to contemplate the possibility that this election would turn out differently. Norm has worked hard for this state and this country, and I hope to ask for his help to ensure that Minnesotans can continue to count on receiving excellent constituent services from their two Senators without interruption.
“I also know that this was a hard-fought victory, and that I didn’t win the support of every Minnesotan. I’m going to have to earn it by being a Senator who fights for every Minnesotan, whether you voted for me or not. And I want every Minnesotan to hear me say: I work for you now. And I will work hard to earn your confidence.
“There may still be additional legal proceedings related to our recount. But I’m now in the business of serving the people of Minnesota. And the best way I can serve the people of Minnesota right now is to focus all my attention and all my energies on getting to work for them on the issues we’ll be facing together.
“I would like to close by doing something I wish I’d gotten a chance to do properly on Election Night, and that is to thank some people. My amazing staff and supporters across the state who made this victory possible and stuck with us this whole way. All the volunteers who woke up the morning after Election Day and got right back to work to help our recount effort. Our state’s dedicated elections officials, our tremendous congressional delegation, and our fantastic Senator, Amy Klobuchar, who continues to be a mentor and an inspiration. And, of course, my beautiful wife Franni and our amazing family.
“For our state, today marked the end of a long process that will forever be a part of Minnesota history. But today is also a beginning. The history of our country will be forever altered by what we do together to address the challenges we face together. So, with tremendous gratitude for the victory we have won, I’m ready to get to work.
“Thank you.”
From Al Franken:
“On the 11th day of Christmas, the State Canvassing Board gave to me . . .”
Come on, Strib: Do a Minnesota Poll asking how many think Coleman should concede NOW! I guarantee it will be more than 42%.
Class Act
I congratulate Senator Franken.
For a great take on the horrible editorial in the Wall Street Journal this morning relating to the validity of the recount number, check out: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/01/did-wall-street-jorunal-fire-their-fact.html#comments
Very well crafted.
It’s your move, Norm. Let’s all hope he is able to distance himself from his attorneys and other advisors still gathering nice paychecks and do the right thing. I know Al would have already addressed the media and conceded this race if he was in the same position. It was an honor to be a state delegate that helped endorse Al Franken for Senator, and to now see that faith come to pass.
I too wish the Strib would conduct a poll or perhaps local news stations, everyone, I have talked to in the passed week or so, even my most conservative republican friends and associates is in complete agreement on that issue, Norm should accept reality and let it go. I urge people to contact Coleman (I did via his website and email) interesting blogs from his various attorneys there, funny thing, comments on all are turned off. Congrats AL! Ive been looking forward to this day since I read “Lies and the Lying Liars”.
Great speech, good outcome.
Much better than Norm merely declaring himself winner.
We need Al in the senate in place of Norm & its the will of the voters to the best assessment that can be made.
While not perfect, we do have a better election system than many states. It is a testament to Minnesotans that we saw it
through & that its results are honored.
I doubt think Norm will “do the right thing.” I have to say that I would be somewhat impressed if he did,
despite knowing that it would be calculated of him. Today I couldn’t see it as gaining my vote for Governor, no matter what he did.
The very idea that he wanted the dirty tricks job for the RNC has me disbelieving he’d ever conceding graciously.
(which he has appeared inept to hold, despite being self-serving enough).
Of course, he told us he would CHANGE that job function, transmogrify it.
Norm hasn’t declared himself the winner for the 4th time?
“By taking this action, I hope that I will have hastened the start of the healing.”
-Richard Nixon
Even Nixon was able to recognize the inevitable. But perhaps Mr. Coleman sees it too… If there is no obvious place for him in the future political landscape I guess he can’t be blamed for going down with guns blazing before him, and scorched earth behind. It will be ugly, but when did that ever stop him? I think it’s a safe bet that we can all count on Norm to do what’s best for Norm.
@Mockingbird
re: It is a testament to Minnesotans that we saw it through & that its results are honored.
I have new respect for Mark Ritchie after this long and politically dangerous recount. He hadn’t been my first choice for SoS, but I couldn’t imagine anyone better representing me, or Minnesota. TheUptake.com crowd came from all over for this one, and Mark now has a following among the national (and international) illuminati. Both Mark and Minnesota came out of this looking really good.