Norm Coleman, who looks likely to lose to Al Franken in the race for U.S. Senate from Minnesota, has taken a job with a lobby group. Nate Silver comments:
This makes little sense if you (i) are at all concerned about public sentiment, or (ii) think you have any chance whatsoever of actually prevailing in the recount. It reminds me a little bit of Mike Huckabee, already mathematically eliminated from the Republican nomination, went on a speaking junket to the Caribbean while ostensibly still seeking the presidency, a clear sign that he was staying in the race merely for the free media that would help him to build his brand for 2012 and beyond.
But what is Coleman’s angle here? Increasingly, I think this is being driven by John Cornyn and the RSCC, and that they’ve given up on beating Franken but merely want to bloody him, casting doubt over the legitimacy of his election in order to make him a focal point for Republican angst.