Seat Franken Provisionally: Former Minn. Sen. Dayton

Al Franken should be provisionally seated as Minnesota’s next Senator, former Democratic Sen. Mark Dayton (D) said Monday.

During a trip to the Minnesota State Capitol, Dayton, who is currently planning a run for governor of the state in 2010, said that Franken should be seated while Sen. Norm Coleman’s (R) continues his challenge to a 225-vote Franken lead certified by a state board.

Dayton said he does respect Coleman’s right to wage the challenge, though, according to Twin Cities Public Television.

Dayton was in the Capitol to criticize Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) for spending taxpayer money on a trip to the Munich Security Conference in Germany this past weekend. Some have speculated that Pawlenty took the trip to bolster his foreign policy credentials ahead of a 2012 presidential bid.