RNC location helps Coleman attend

Posted at 11:24 AM on August 18, 2008 by Tim Pugmire

Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman says he understands why some of his colleagues have said they will skip next month's Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

North Carolina's Elizabeth Dole and Alaska's Ted Stevens lead a list of GOP Senators who've reportedly said they won't attend the four-day event. Coleman says convention attendance is a simple election-year decision for many Senators who are facing tough re-election battles.

"So I think those who come here will have an extraordinary time," Coleman said." But the colleagues who don't come are staying at home only because they have tough races. If the convention wasn't in St. Paul, I wouldn't be at the convention."

Coleman, who's also running for re-election this fall, says he plans to be active and involved during in the four-day-event. But the first-term Republican says his schedule, including a convention speaking slot, hasn't been finalized.

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