Ensign Calls Minn. Senate Race for Coleman

Sen. John Ensign (Nev.), chief of the Senate GOP’s 2008 campaign effort, congratulated Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) on a victory even though his razor-thin lead in his race is subject to a recount.

Coleman leads Democrat Al Franken by less than 600 votes out of nearly 3 million cast. State law requires a recount, which won’t start until mid-November.

But Ensign, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, declared Coleman the victor in a statement released Wednesday.

“I would like to congratulate Norm Coleman on a hard-fought reelection,” Ensign said. “In a tough year for Republicans, Norm was able to make a compelling case that he was the best choice to advocate on behalf of Minnesotans in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Coleman is critical to maintaining a Republican firewall against the radical Democrat agenda and I am pleased he will continue to fight the good fight in the Senate.”

Five incumbent GOP senators lost their seats, and as many as three others could still be ousted. There are still votes to be counted in the races for Sens. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).