Franken: I Can't Wait to Start Work

Senator-elect stresses loyalty to state, downplays Dem. supermajority
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 30, 2009 5:06 PM CDT
Franken: I Can't Wait to Start Work
Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken watches a changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.   (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Al Franken said he was “thrilled and honored by the faith Minnesotans placed in me” after the state Supreme Court declared him the winner of the Senate recount, CNN reports. "I'm so excited to finally be able to get to work " said Franken, who added that he got a "very gracious" phone call from Norm Coleman. In his news conference, Franken struck a cordial tone, saying he would stand on principle when necessary but would be willing to "compromise" for the good of constituents.

Franken said he looked at his role in the Senate not as “the 60th Democratic senator, but the second senator from Minnesota.” He also noted that he’s “junior to 99 senators.” The former Saturday Night Live comedian said he had a staff mostly selected to “hit the ground if not running, trotting.”
(More Al Franken stories.)

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