We endorsed Norm Coleman in the U.S. Senate race last year and that is an endorsement we stand by. However, we can't endorse Coleman's planned appeal to the Minnesota State Supreme Court for another ruling on the election results.
Coleman needs to respect the recent ruling by a three-judge panel which reviewed the challenges in his lawsuit and said Franken received more votes.
Coleman really doesn't need the ruling from the Minnesota Supreme Court to learn he didn't win the election. The recount and the subsequent ruling by the three-judge panel has shown that.
We also believe the Minnesota Supreme Court will make the same ruling as the three-judge panel.
This was a difficult and close election. We understand Coleman's concern on the recount and his desire to file a lawsuit for a panel review and ruling, but the most important issue here is that, Republican or Democrat, Minnesota needs its second senator in place in Washington, D.C.
Coleman needs to allow Al Franken to be seated as a Minnesota U.S. senator.
And when Franken is in that role, he must remember how close this election was, 312 votes, and know that he has a responsibility, not only to the small majority that elected him, but to all Minnesotans who voted in that election.