Ex-Minn. GOP senators want McFadden as ’14 nominee

Published 10:40 am Friday, August 2, 2013

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Republican Senate candidate Mike McFadden has announced the backing of former Sens. Norm Coleman and Rod Grams in his campaign for the party’s 2014 nomination.

The former officeholders will serve in honorary roles in McFadden’s campaign. He is trying to navigate a GOP field en route to a general election challenge to Democratic Sen. Al Franken.

Grams and Coleman each served a single Senate term and are the most recent Republicans to hold the office. Coleman lost his seat to Franken in a 2008 nail-biter.

McFadden also said Friday that Molly Corrigan Cronin, who has an influential role in GOP fundraising circles, will be campaign chair.

State Rep. Jim Abeler is also seeking the GOP nod and state Sen. Julianne Ortman will announce Saturday if she’s getting in too.