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Capitol View®
Brett Neely

Franken to vote against Norway ambassador pick

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WASHINGTON - President Obama's pick to be U.S. Ambassador to Norway, businessman and Democratic Party donor George Tsunis, won't be getting Sen. Al Franken's support when the Senate votes on Tsunis' nomination.

In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, Franken wrote, “On the basis of my constituents’ concerns about Mr. Tsunis’ ability to serve effectively as our nation’s ambassador, I am writing to inform you that I oppose his nomination and will vote against confirmation should it come up for a vote.”

Tsunis, a New York businessman who has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrats and bundled an estimated $843,000 in donations for Obama in 2012, flubbed his Senate confirmation hearing in January, displaying a significant lack of knowledge about Norwegian politics and trade.

Minnesota is home to the country's largest concentration of Norwegian-Americans and the community rallied to oppose the nomination after the hearing.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar also opposes Tsunis' nomination.

Here's some video from the nomination hearing: