CQ Transcriptswire

SPEAKER: SEN. NORM COLEMAN, R-MINN.

[*] (JOINED IN PROGRESS) COLEMAN: ... a lot closer than I -- than I -- certainly different from what I thought it would be on election night, but I do think it’s important to make sure that certain -- some votes are not counted twice. I do think it’s important to make sure that absentee ballot are viewed by a uniform standard throughout the state. I will be confident in the result when we go through, you know, those inconsistencies, things that were raised before the canvassing board but could not be dealt with there.

So this is not me being confident, you know, I’m going to -- I believe I’m going to win. I believe I won the election election night...

(APPLAUSE)

But in the end, it will be -- you know, the votes will decide. And I think we’ve got a good process in Minnesota. And the -- and the recount -- and the -- the contested case is part of this process, acknowledged both by the canvassing board and by the Supreme Court.

QUESTION: Senator, Harry Reid called on you to concede today. Did you ever consider doing that?

(BOOING)

COLEMAN: This race will be determined by Minnesota voters, not by Harry Reid .

(APPLAUSE)

QUESTION: Former -- former Governor Carlson’s (OFF-MIKE) what do you say to him?

COLEMAN: I say that double-counted ballots have to be dealt with. Absentee ballots have to be dealt with uniformly. We’ll let the -- we’ll let the court take a look at those issues and come to a conclusion, and that will be the -- that will be the judgment.

QUESTION: Senator, the morning after the election, you said, if you were the one (OFF-MIKE) you would step back. You were saying (OFF-MIKE)

COLEMAN: I’ve also -- by the way, I was about 700-and-something votes ahead at that time. And even when I was still ahead, I acknowledged shortly thereafter that that statement was a mistake. And when I was ahead, I said that that statement was a mistake.

And, clearly, what we’ve seen in this process, what we didn’t know then is that you’ve got some ballots that were counted twice. We’ve had absentee ballots now that are coming from certain parts of the state, not from others.

So way before today, I acknowledge that that -- you know, feeling we have to go through this process. We’ve gone through the process, and we’re not yet through it. The next step in that process, particularly when there are issues of double-counted ballots, when there are issues about hundreds, if not thousands, of absentee ballots that have not had a consistent standard, is to present that in a contested case and then go with that decision.

QUESTION: Senator, any concern (OFF-MIKE)

COLEMAN: Yes, there is a concern. And our office is -- is -- is working closely with Senator Klobuchar’s office. Amy’s going (inaudible) little. There’s some extra work to be done.

But I really think it’s important for a six-year term to make sure that we get this right. Whoever wins this race needs to have the -- needs to have the -- the trust of the people that votes were counted fairly, that votes were not counted twice, that absentee ballots were -- were looked at fairly and uniformly.

So I think the -- in the interest of having somebody serve with the credibility and the consent of the governed, I think we have to get this right.

We have a process in Minnesota which I think is a good process. I respect that process. And so we’re abiding with that. I think that’s the higher value, that ultimately, for all the decisions that have to be made over the next six years, let’s take the time right now in this contested case to get it right.

And then whoever is the winner, I believe, will, you know, be able to go forward with the -- the trust and credibility of the people, that, you know, no vote was counted more than once and that there were uniform standards applied in the counting of all votes.

One or two more questions.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

COLEMAN: I think there’s -- I’m going to respond to both of them, actually. One, I think there’s no question that, you know, we all learn from challenges. This election has certainly presented some unique challenges, and we have kind of looked in the mirror at things that we hadn’t looked at before.

I have -- there are a number of folks in the legislature who are here, and I think on both sides of aisle -- I don’t think this is a partisan issue -- I think there will be a -- a review of that process.

I mean, you know, the reality is, is that more folks are voting absentee now than the past. And so, will this give us an opportunity to look forward? I think it will, to make some corrections. And, again, from my perspective, I just want to make sure that the votes cast in this election are counted fairly, they were counted once, and that there were uniform standards.

And in terms of the people of Minnesota, I -- I really believe -- I really believe that the people of Minnesota want to make sure that we get this right, no matter what side of the aisle you’re on.

(APPLAUSE)

You know, I said in my -- in my statement, the eyes of the nation are on the state that we love, on Minnesota. We take great pride in the way we do things in this state. And we have a process here to get it right. We are abiding with that process.

Are my counselors, Tony and Fritz (ph), here? Why don’t I bring in some of the legal team over here? Tony, will one of you come forward? I presume that some folks may have questions.

QUESTION: Senator, yesterday Al Franken sympathized with what you must be going through. What have you been going through for the past (OFF-MIKE)

COLEMAN: I think all of us -- I would presume with Franken, it’s the same thing -- as soon as -- we’ve been in uncharted water here. And I’ve been in some uncharted water races.

But this is certainly unique. And it is a challenge. We’ve -- we rely on our faith, you know, to, you know, hopefully -- and believe, you know, that the right result will happen. Whether it’s the result I want, I don’t control that. The good lord and the voters of Minnesota control that.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) claimed victory yesterday, said he now works for the state, and he has the Senate seat.

COLEMAN: The -- the law in Minnesota is very clear that -- that -- the law (OFF-MIKE) there is no certification. And so there is no one certified as the winner of this race. The recount has gone through, and the totals of those recount have been set very clear, and I think the Senate understand this. I believe Harry Reid understands it, that, until this contest is resolved, there will not -- no one will be certified as the winner in this race.

STAFF: Thanks, everyone.

COLEMAN: Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

END

.ETX

Jan 06, 2009 16:25 ET .EOF

Source: CQ Transcriptions

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