Franken takes critical seat
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Al Franken ascended yesterday from the hallowed ranks of former "Saturday Night Live" comedians to an even more exclusive club, outlasting Republican Norm Coleman in an eight-month recount and courtroom saga to win a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Franken's victory gives Democrats control of 60 seats in the Senate - the critical number needed to overcome Republican filibusters.
"The way I see it, I'm not going to Washington to be the 60th Democratic senator, I'm going to Washington to be the second senator from Minnesota," he said.
Coleman conceded the election hours after the state Supreme Court ruled that Franken, with 312 more votes out of 2.9 million, should be certified the winner. * - Associated Press
