WASHINGTON -- The Al Franken ad criticizing Norm Coleman's Capitol Hill living arrangements shows a sunny, swanky upstairs room.
But Coleman, a Minnesota Republican, actually lives in a different part of the house, renting an English basement apartment for $600 a month. His campaign complains that the ad is misleading Minnesota voters.
The issue is about more than how much natural light Coleman gets in his apartment. Democrats are alleging that Coleman is paying below market value for his space, a violation of the Senate gifts rule.
The ad shows the upstairs room as an announcer says that Coleman is "paying only $600 a month rent to live in a million dollar D.C. home." Coleman's campaign says he doesn't have access to the upstairs part of the house, where a family lives.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
