I stopped by the Franken-Coleman trial for a few minutes today, where things continue to move very slowly. The Duluth City clerk was on the stand in the afternoon, verifying absentee ballots cast in his city, comparing signatures and addresses. Snooze-ville.

During a break, I ran into Sen. Norm Coleman, who often attends the proceedings. I’d covered Coleman for many years when he was St. Paul mayor, so we chatted about kids and family.

Also in the hallway were many of the large contingent of reporters following the proceedings. The Strib has two reporters alternating at the trial, the Pioneer Press is there full-time; so is MPR. The Duluth newspaper reporter was there, along with MinnPost’s own Jay Weiner.

Said Coleman: “These guys [the reporters] want the trial to keep going more than anyone. It’s a full-employment act for reporters.”

Too bad for the cash-strapped news organzations that the government isn’t footing their bill.