CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
– POLITICS
May 7, 2009 – 6:27 p.m.
Minnesota Republicans: Pawlenty Will Help Coleman
By Emily Cadei, CQ Staff
Republican activists remain confident that Minnesota’s Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty will help Norm Coleman continue his fight to be declared the winner of the state’s deadlocked 2008 Senate race.
Pawlenty “will fight like hell” to delay certifying Democrat Al Franken the winner of the race, should Coleman, a Republican, lose his appeal pending before the state Supreme Court and move to take his case to the federal courts, said Sarah Janecek, a Republican commentator and publisher of the newsletter “Politics in Minnesota.”
So far, Pawlenty, whose signature is required to certify a state election, has evaded questions about whether or not he plans to certify a winner of the pivotal race if Coleman’s challenge is unsuccessful and he decides to fight on.
Despite increased pressure from Democrats that the race be called in Franken’s favor, the Republican activists contend Pawlenty is prepared to allow the legal process to play out even if an appeal delays a resolution of the race.
“My sense is the governor is not going to issue a certificate of election until all reasonable opportunities for an appeal have been exhausted or Norm Coleman has not decided to pursue a further appeal,” agreed Chris Georgacas, a former Minnesota Republican Party chairman.
Republicans in the state acknowledged, however, that Pawlenty’s hands are likely to be tied by the state Supreme Court, which could require the governor to sign the certificate. Last month, a state trial court declared Franken the winner of the race by 312 votes.
Pawlenty may, however, face unhappiness from the state’s independents and Democrats if he plays a role in delaying certification.
A Minneapolis Star-Tribune poll released April 27 found that 73 percent of respondents want Coleman to concede if he loses the Supreme Court appeal, including a majority of Republicans.
Eric Fought, spokesman for the state’s equivalent to the Democratic Party—the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party— underscored that the Star-Tribune poll and other recent surveys present a forceful political reason for Coleman and Pawlenty to pass up extending the case any further.
He said the consensus among Minnesota voters that the race should end with the state Supreme Court ruling “continues to grow every day.”
Pawlenty’s office did not return calls seeking comment, but the governor has said in the past that he would abide by the court’s dictates. Gina Countryman, spokeswoman for the Minnesota Republican Party, agreed, saying, “Gov. Pawlenty will do what the courts expect of him.”
If the governor does allow Franken to be named the winner, Georgacas doubted that Pawlenty would suffer politically or face a backlash among the state’s rank-and-file Republicans.
Should Franken prevail in the state Supreme Court, which will hear oral arguments June 1, the Democrat is expected to take legal action to force Pawlenty to certify him the winner. Such a lawsuit would leave it up to the state Supreme Court to determine whether the law requires Pawlenty to sign the certification—a point now under dispute.
Just the same, Minnesota Republicans have resisted attempts by Democrats in Minnesota and Washington to influence the outcome of the race.
They denounced as a stunt a $10,000 advertising campaign funded by Americans United for Change, a progressive group, which called on Pawlenty to certify a winner after the state Supreme Court makes its decision.
Despite being too small a campaign to fill much air time, the ad nonetheless received abundant media coverage.
“A measly $10,000 campaign from some unions and Democratic-organized public pressure means nothing,” Janecek said.
Still, the ad and the attention it generated reflect the renewed national political spotlight on Pawlenty.
The attention is largely due to Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter ’s recent defection to the Democratic Party, a move that greatly increased the political stakes of the outcome of the long-contested race. If Franken is declared the winner Democrats would on paper have sufficient votes —the magic parliamentary 60—required to overcome opposition from Republicans.
That reality has renewed calls for the second Minnesota senator to be seated. New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer , the third ranking Democrat, last week warned Pawlenty against delaying certification after the state Supreme Court rules.
“Pawlenty’s signature is very, very important. We expect it to happen after the Supreme Court of Minnesota rules,” Schumer said. “That’s what we believe the law is, clearly and unequivocally.”
On Wednesday, Vice President Joseph R. Biden also signaled that the White House wants the race resolved. Biden met with Franken in the White House, arranged for photographs to be taken and issued a statement saying he expected to be working with Franken in the Senate once the state Supreme Court has ruled.
Kathleen Hunter contributed to this story.
Comments
"...face a backlash among the STATE's rank-and-file Republicans." If Pawlenty were not to sign the certificate voluntarily after the MN SC's (expected) decision that would be a sure sign that he is angling for a spot on the national ticket in '12!
Um, since when is a race that's gone to recount, with the results of that recount certified by the election board, "deadlocked"? The outcome of this election may be "stymied", "procedurally delayed" or just "gamed", but deadlocked it ain't.
Sarah Janecek is kind of the William Kristol of Minnesota pundits -- always certain, though not always, like Kristol, wrong -- and in this case, she may actually be right. Pawlenty is so consumed by his ambitions for higher office (vp in 2012) that he is willing to do whatever the RNC tells him to do. Ironically though, if he does in fact try to stall seating Al Franken once the Minnesota Supreme Court hands down its inevitable decision declaring Franken the winner, the Governor faces the very real prospect of losing his re-election bid in 2010 (he has twice been elected with under 45 percent of the vote) and with it any chance of being on the national ticket. Poor Tim!
It really is up to the voters of Minnesota to decide if their Governor has their best interests at heart. Minnesotans are renown for their stoicism but despite this poll saying there will be no pushback against Pawlenty's intransigence, I suspect a Minnesotans sense of fair play will win the day and Franken will take his rightful seat in the US Senate. And Pawlenty? I strongly suspect that he will hear from voters when they vote him out of office for his bankrupt "Party before The People" ideology.
This case should not leave the state. If the MN State Supreme Court agrees that Frankken's team has successfully stolen the election then so be it, he is the Senator for remainder of six years. The people of MN should then rise up and make sure they get an honest Secretary of State in the future.
If Leonard truly is a lawyer he should remember that one needs evidence before they draw the conclusion that a person or a process has been dishonest. Clearly Al Franken won a close, but fair and honest, election. Just because people decide to make up baseless accusations doesn't change that fact.
If the State Supreme Courts find the election valid, and say the Gov. must verify and certify it that is the end. Anything more is a violation and punishable by law. I think the State of Minn. also has a really big problem with Michelle Bachman. She opens her mouth and stupid comes out. I know you got a lot of smart folks there in your state a know a few. She got by somehow. Get yourself a few of her statesments burn on a DVD and you have a days worth of falling off your chair belly laughs. But frighening to think she is a member of Congress. Do you think she is a commie spy or perhaps a facist? I wonder.
It is hard to believe that Pawlenty would refuse Franken after the MN Supremes rule. The citizens of his state overwhelmingly want Coleman to concede. He faces re-election 2010. He does not want to look like the same kind of hack as Coleman. Regardless what the RNC would have him do, he does not want to alienate his own electorate. He must also worry about how he looks to the rest of the nation, not just the dwindling GOP base.
xargaw: From here in the Pacific Northwest, Pawlenty looks weasely and weak. He was disinterested in public safety and, through neglect, allowed the collapse of a major bridge. He, like Palin, is minor league.
As a Minnesotan, I am paying taxes without full representation. SEAT FRANKEN NOW, he won. Party before the people Gov, yup you betcha! You will not win for re-election, too many are really angry with you, and will not forget this. You're asking 1/2 the citizens who voted for Franken to vote for you again, good luck with that!
Tim of Eagan is in a no-win situation. If he doesn't certify, there's almost no chance of re-election in 2010, but if he does, he pisses off the RNC. Right now, he's jonesing for national office so he might just following the party's line and let this thing go on and on. As a fellow Minnesotan, I'm angered by his pandering to the party. He should realize that he stands almost no chance of making the 2012 ticket.
Andrew as a DC resident, I think I have a unique perspective into what you are feeling now :)
Come on Pawlenty show us idependent voters you care about your state before following the straight party line of just say no. I know you are working with a democratic Governor about using the government money given and using it for the benifit of both states and the people in those states.The people ofMinn. ne their senator and it sure seems as if it is Frankin so get to it Governor Pawlenty and do what is right
Reid and Democrats should invoke reconciliation until Senator Franken is seated. Then they will enjoy a simple majority to close debate. This would be all the leverage they need to stop this needless obstruction.
The governor ought to be focused on enforcing the laws of Minnesota rather than pandering to republicans.
Leonard the lawyer's comment was absurd. On what basis can he show that Franken "stole" the election? After multiple recounts, and months long court processes, Franken was declared the winner. Why is that stealing? Also, I agree that the article's assertion that the race is deadlocked is also absurd. Franken won. He got the most votes. It is not deadlocked.
If Gov. Pawlenty fails to sign the document after the supreme court ruling it is just another example of the needs of the people belng sacrificed for the needs of the GOP. When will they learn?
Anyone who has read the Law knows that the Minnesota Supreme Court is where this Coleman foolishness ends. "The Court of Proper Jurisdiction" to bring this saga to a close it the MSC. They'll likely Order the signing of the Certificate with their Rulings, Decisions and Orders. Should Pawlenty fail to obey the Order of the MSC, he'd be held in Contempt of Court. After all this Case has been through; I would NOT want to be the one in Contempt of the Minnesota Supreme Court.
It seems pretty obvious that Franklin has won a close hard fought election. Norm Coleman is showing the citizens how petty he is in lust to maintain his seat in the senate. I have seen olympic runners and swimmers lose by 100th of one second and except defeat in a humble manner. Norm Coleman is power hungry and Pawlenty is a partisan hack trying for a run at the White House that he will lose. The American people will smell him coming a mile away.
If the Minnesota Supreme Court declares Franken the winner and Governor Pawlenty plays partisan politics by refusing to sign the certificate of election, I surely hope that US Senate Democrats will have what it takes to move immediately to seat him. If they think they need 60 votes to do it, they've got to ensure that no DINOs wander off the reservation, that independent Joe Lieberman is willing to go along, and that at least one Republican Senator (the best prospect being Maine's Olympia Snowe) joins them in voting for fairness. But, if it can be done with 51 votes, do it. This thing has been unnecessarily delayed too long already.
Pawlenty is an embarrassment for all of us Republicans whether Conservative or Moderate. Coleman fought a good race, but he lost. It's time to look ahead to 2010! MN deserves better.
I understand the frustration of not having two Senators but there are some Constitutional issues at stake here. Including the Equal Protection Clause from the U.S Constitution. Pawlenty is simply letting this situation play out in the Courts and Minnesotans should respect that. If the Supreme Court orders him to sign a certification letter then I am sure he will do so. Let the courts decide who is the winner, there seem to be 11,000 absentee ballots left uncounted, counties that counted absentee ballots when they shouldn't have. Anyone pushing for Franken to be seated now is not letting the courts do what they were meant to do.
Dear Norm, It is time to do the right thing!! End the farce and save your honor!! GIVE UP!!
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