- The Washington Times - Monday, November 3, 2014

Powerful liberal groups on Monday launched a final offensive on behalf of Sen. Al Franken, the first-term Minnesota Democrat facing a challenge from Republican Mike McFadden.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), a rising force on the left, had some of its members make last-minute phone calls Monday to urge Minnesota voters to back Mr. Franken in his re-election bid.

Having won in 2008 by just a few hundred votes, Mr. Franken told PCCC members their work, especially in the final hours of the campaign, is crucial.

“I think everyone remembers that I won by 312 votes [in 2008]. Every one of these calls makes an enormous difference and could be the call that wins it for me,” the senator told progressive supporters on a conference call. “Get on the phones. The stakes are so high.”

Mr. Franken appears to have his re-election sewn up, according to recent surveys. A Real Clear Politics average of recent polls puts his lead at 10 percentage points. The polls were conducted from Oct. 16 through Oct. 30.

But the McFadden campaign has been making a final push of its own, seeking to paint Mr. Franken as an ineffective senator who merely does whatever President Obama wants him to do.

Mr. Franken’s record of voting in favor of the White House position 97 percent of the time has been a central point of the McFadden campaign.

“Al Franken has fallen short. Minnesota deserves a senator who will work hard, reach across the aisle, and get things done. Instead, Al Franken puts party over people,” McFadden Campaign Manager Carl Kuhl said Sunday night.

• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.

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