WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As Congress begins tangling over the estimated $850 billion stimulus package, Senate Democrats are getting serious about seating former comedian Al Franken -- or at least showing their solidarity -- while Republican Norm Coleman’s election lawsuit continues.

“We’re going to try to seat Al Franken,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters Wednesday. “There’s no way that Coleman can win this. The numbers aren’t there.”

A few hours later, Reid met with the Minnesota Democrat in Reid’s Capitol office to discuss committee assignments and the stimulus package.

“The race in Minnesota is over,” Reid reiterated to a swarm of reporters and photographers, who were allowed into his office for a photo-op. Reid added that at this point “every vote is so important.”

If Franken is seated, the Democrats’ majority in the Senate would swell to 59, their largest margin in 30 years and just one short of the 60 votes needed to end a filibuster.

Franken thanked Reid for meeting with him and then invoked the words of President Barack Obama, whom he watched be sworn-in yesterday.

“Obama said yesterday that we’ve got to get to work to address the problems that we have, and that’s what we’re doing here today... so that when I do get here, I can hit the ground running,” Franken said.

Franken is leading by 225 votes after the State Canvassing Board recount, but Coleman has filed a court challenge to the results. The outcome of the race cannot be certified until all court challenges are complete. Senators, including senior Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, have previously said that the certification is paramount.

Franken leaves Washington to return to Minnesota tomorrow.