Live at the U.S. Senate, it's Sen. Franken

WASHINGTON, July 6 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen.-elect Al Franken, D-Minn., said Monday he's not thinking about being the 60th vote for Democrats, only about being No. 2 from his state.

"A lot has been made of this number 60," Franken said in a media availability in Washington with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. "The number I'm focused on is the number two. I see myself as the second senator from the state of Minnesota."

The Minnesota Supreme Court last week declared Franken the winner of the Nov. 4 election over Republican Norm Coleman, who twice challenged an election recount in a bid to regain his seat. He is expected to be sworn in Tuesday, providing the 60th vote Democrats need to block filibusters.

"Minnesotans are very practical people," said Franken, author, comedian, and former "Saturday Night Live" writer and performer. "They want to make sure that the work we do here in the Senate makes sense and that the decisions we make for the future have a strong return on investment."

Minnesotans, he said, want affordable, accessible healthcare; a policy that addresses climate change while weaning the country from foreign oil; and a top-drawer education for their children "that prepares them for a 21st-century economy," Franken said.

"I am going to work day and night to make sure that our kids have a great future and that America's best days lay ahead," Franken said. "I'm ready to get to work."