Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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DFL Sen. Al Franken said Thursday he regrets a moment a few years ago when he held two traffic cones to his chest.

Until today Franken hadn't commented about a short video clip Republicans have been circulating that shows him playing with the traffic cones. Franken said it was a moment when he "wasn't thinking."

"I just think it was a thoughtless moment. Obviously, someone was shooting me that I wasn't aware of, and it was just a moment I regret," said Franken at the State Fair today.

Republicans are still trying to make an issue of the stunt.

GOP Senate candidate Mike McFadden called the Franken's statement far from an apology.

"He said he didn't know he was being videotaped. I mean, as a parent I'd send my kid back to his room," said McFadden, who also notes that when Franken first ran for the Senate he offered a sweeping apology for things he said and did as an entertainer that could have offended women.

"I don't think he's changed," said McFadden.  I think his apologies in '08 rang hollow given his actions as a U.S. senator."

When asked whether the campaign should be focused more on policy, McFadden criticized Franken for agreeing to take part in only three debates.

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Mark Zdechlik

Author

Until Thursday Sen. Franken had refused to comment on a short video clip Republicans have been circulating that shows him holding two traffic cones to his chest.

Franken says he regrets playing with traffic cones

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