The last U.S. Senate debate today (Sunday, Nov. 2) at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul may have served as a microcosm of the entire campaign with Republican U.S. Sen Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken going at it.

Three U.S. Senate candidates, Sen. Norm Coleman, Dean Barkley and Al Franken met for their final debate at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul on Sunday night. (Photo by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)

The debate — sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio — opened with questions concerning a suit filed against Coleman's and friend and political supporter Nasser Kazeminy by a Texas businessman alleging Kazeminy channeled $75,000 to Coleman through a brokerage firm that employs Laurie Coleman, the senator's wife.

by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

The last U.S. Senate debate today (Sunday, Nov. 2) at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul may have served as a microcosm of the entire campaign with Republican U.S. Sen Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken going at it.

The debate — sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio — opened with questions concerning a suit filed against Coleman's and friend and political supporter Nasser Kazeminy by a Texas businessman alleging Kazeminy channeled $75,000 to Coleman through a brokerage firm that employs Laurie Coleman, the senator's wife.

Sen. Norm Coleman plays agressor in this exchange with challenger Al Franken.

Emphatically denying the allegation, Coleman said his anger over it stems from an independent expenditure television ad defaming his wife.

The issue, said Coleman, was about the responsibility for the ad and Franken crossing a line.

"If you don't see that there's a line to be drawn, I think you don't understand Minnesota,” said Coleman to Franken.

Political sugar daddy

But Franken pushed the lawsuit right back at Coleman. It's not about Laurie Coleman — it's not about him, Franken opined. "This is about Senator Coleman's political sugar daddy,” said Franken, referring to Kazeminy.

His campaign, said Franken, isn't good enough to persuade a Texas CEO to file a suit to politically harm Coleman.

It's a serious matter, said Franken. Coleman and Kazeminy need to answer questions, he said.

Franken said he had no control over the ad — Coleman didn't buy it.

Coleman said he didn't buy Franken's argument he had no control over negative advertising.

He recently condemned a comic-book style independent campaign ad against Franken and asked for the remaining copies to be destroyed, Coleman said.

Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley, asked for a comment by moderator Gary Eichten about the squabble, told the audience now they knew the reason why he's running — the audience laughed and applauded.

Most negative Senate campaign in state history

Barkley called the last minute suit and dustup "a fitting end to probably the most negative U.S. Senate campaign in Minnesota history.”

Things got testy during a question and answer session where candidates were allowed to ask one and other questions.

Coleman asked Franken to name three things that he had done to help Minnesota.

Franken began to explain how he worked with a physician to obtain helmet liners for U.S. Marines — Coleman jumped in, saying that was on his radio show.

"I didn't know there were rules like that,” Franken said, adding the radio show was done while he was in Minnesota.

"By the way, that was something that a senator could have done,” said Franken of the helmet initiative.

Franken then asked Coleman whether he supported a lifetime ban on former members of Congress becoming lobbyists.

Coleman indicated that he did not. "What does it accomplish?” Coleman asked.

If you assume former members of Congress are crooks, what does that do to the public's trust in the Congress, he asked.

Judicial questions

The three candidates were asked whether they could vote to confirm a qualified U.S. Supreme Court candidate who disagreed with their views on abortion.

Coleman indicated that could.

"I would never ask that question,” said Barkley.

Franken said if the candidate were against "choice,” he would vote against them.

Franken smiled and quipped through out the hour-long debate — at one time waving his hands to quiet boos from the audience over a Coleman remark.

Coleman, though smiling too, appeared stern for much of the debate.

Candidate Barkley upbeat

Barkley, after the debate, seemed upbeat. "How are things going to wind up for me — I'm going to win,” said Barkley "This thing is wide open. Anything can happen,” he said.

Barkley indicated the recently negativeness of the campaign will help him.

"Certainly it will. The more negative they get, the better off I am,” he said.

Following a heated exchange between Coleman and Franken, Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley said that was why he was running the the U.S. Senate.

He'll be busy during the remaining days of the campaign. "I tried to go golfing tomorrow but they wouldn't let me,” Barkley quipped.

Barkley said several times during the debate he would not "pander” to the audience — he would not make promises that he knows the state of the federal budget cannot withstand, he explained.

(Photos by T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter)