BUSH REPAYS COLEMAN’S LOYALTY WITH BIG-TICKET FUNDRAISER

08/21/2007

Today Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman welcomes President Bush to Minnesota as the president holds a fundraiser for the embattled senator. The event, being held in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, comes on the heels of more bad poll numbers for both Coleman and Bush in the state.

“Norm Coleman has voted with George Bush more than 90 percent of the time, and the best reward for his good behavior is cold, hard cash,” DSCC spokeswoman Hannah August said. “But when the two appear hand and hand at this fundraiser, it will only serve to remind the people of Minnesota that Coleman’s loyalty lies with Bush and his failed policies. Minnesotans have consistently expressed their desire for a change in leadership, and no amount of money raised today will change their minds.”

Coleman Votes With Bush More Than 90% of the Time. Since coming to Washington, Coleman has voted with bush 90.5% of the time. In his first year in the Senate, Coleman backed Bush a whopping 98% of the time. [CQ Member Profile]

Poll Shows Coleman’s Job Approval Sinking. A poll released by the DSCC last week showed that Coleman’s approval rating dropped 7 points since January and now stands at just 41%. In addition, only 37% of Minnesotans now say they would vote to re-elect Coleman while 49% would vote for someone else and less than a quarter of Minnesotans approve of the job President Bush is doing. [DSCC Release, 8/16/07]

Coleman Suggested Bush Was Answer to His Prayers. In 2003, Colman said that God answers prayers by providing leadership, "and we have that in George W. Bush." [Star Tribune, 4/18/03]

Coleman Said He Wouldn’t Be in Senate Without Bush’s Support. On his 2003 swearing-in day, Coleman said, “I wouldn't be here without the support of the president of the United States.” [Star Tribune, 1/8/03]

Coleman Said He Best Served Minnesota By Aligning Himself With Bush. In April 2004, Coleman said he could be “be most effective for Minnesota by working with this president.” Coleman acknowledged he was at risk of voter backlash by working for the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004. [AP, 4/2/04]

Bush Raised More Than $2 Million for Coleman’s 2002 Campaign. President Bush visited Minnesota a number of times in 2002 to campaign for Coleman, raising him more than $2 million along the way. [Pioneer Press, 7/28/02; New York Times, 7/12/02]