Politics / Al Franken Franken Hits DC; Coleman Does, Too Franken prepares, Coleman raises money, as endless election contest drags By Gabriel Winant, Newser Staff Posted Feb 11, 2009 12:16 PM CST Copied Attorneys' Joe Friedberg, left, representing Norm Coleman, and Kevin Hamilton, representing Al Franken, sift through documents at the Minnesota Judicial Center, Feb 6, 2009, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Flores, Pool) With the outcome of Minnesota’s US Senate election still tied up in court, Al Franken is in DC preparing for what appears to be his new job. "It's a symbolic step to show Minnesota voters that Franken is doing what he needs to do to be ready to serve," writes Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post. And opponent Norm Coleman's there, too—awkward! Franken is meeting with Senate staffers and policy advisers; Coleman's in town for a fundraiser supporting his continuing court battle. Meanwhile, the trial drags on. "I admit to being frustrated at times," Franken told the AP. "But it's a little out of my control. What is in my control is to prepare so that when I get to the Senate, I'm ready to go on day one." (More Al Franken stories.) Report an error