Franken holds Capitol event, challenges Coleman's record

St. Paul, Minn. — Senator Norm Coleman officially launches his re-election campaign tomorrow.

At a state Capitol rally this morning, DFL challenger Al Franken attacked Coleman's record in the Senate.

"Senator Coleman has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from defense contractors, oil companies, insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies, and these were very good investments for them," Franken told the assembled crowd.

Al Franken speech

Franken accused Coleman of lax oversight over those industries and of supporting legislation that served their interests over the interests of the country.

Franken also called for universal health care, an end to the war in Iraq and investments in renewable energy.

Franken, who is making his first run for public office, did not mention his chief rival for the DFL endorsement in the race, Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.