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.
The feature examines statements made by Minnesota politicians and checks them for accuracy. Based on data analysis, document reviews and interviews with non-partisan analysts, statements are rated either true, false or inconclusive. PoliGraph is a collaboration between Minnesota Public Radio News and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
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