As lawyers for Al Franken and Norm Coleman sounded off in St. Paul before a special three-judge panel that may decide which man will fill Coleman’s former U.S. Senate seat, the noises coming from the nation’s capital were about seating Franken soon, before the court resolves Coleman’s election contest.

Franken met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for half an hour late Wednesday afternoon, talking Senate business and even potential committee assignments for the Minnesota Democrat, who led Coleman by 225 votes out of nearly 3 million cast in the November election, according to the state Canvassing Board. Here’s some of what was said Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

Reid (quoted by The Associated Press and CNN):

We’re going to try to seat Al Franken. There’s not a question in anyone’s mind, an assertion by anyone, that there’s been any fraud or wrongdoing in this election. … There is no way that Coleman can win this. The numbers just aren’t there.

More quotes (updated), including from Franken and Coleman, after the jump.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, quoted by the AP):

If Al Franken truly believes he won this election, he should respect the laws of his state and allow this legal review to be completed.

Franken (quoted in the Pioneer Press):

My legal team tells me the state law’s ambiguous. I’d love to be seated as soon as possible. I’d like to start to work. [But, if the state Supreme Court denies him an election certificate] then I have a feeling I won’t be seated [until court action is over]. … I would like to be seated provisionally — although it’s out of my personal control — so Minnesota will have two senators while we’re spending $850 billion.

Franken (quoted in Roll Call):

President Obama yesterday said that we’ve got to get to work and to address the problems that we have. So that’s what we’re doing here today. We’re talking about the stimulus package, the calendar here in the Senate, so that when I do get here, I can hit the ground running.

Coleman, also in Washington, D.C. (quoted in the Washington Times):

“It’s been surreal. I tell people I’m a Jewish kid who has come to understand the concept of purgatory. … [Reid] can huff and puff all he wants, but this vote will be decided by the people and the courts of the state of Minnesota. … I really hope my Democratic colleagues do not make this into a partisan issue. I hope and pray this doesn’t break down along party lines.

Coleman (quoted in the Star Tribune):

Reports of my defeat are greatly exaggerated. Franken’s lead is artificial. Any attempt to shut off this process is not going to succeed.

Reid, about whether seating Franken would precede court action (quoted in the Star Tribune):

We’ll have to wait and see. We’re going to see if Coleman’s people are just being dilatory or have some meritorious issues.

That last statement led the Pioneer Press’ Political Animal to tweet, “False alarm,” in reference to Reid’s “We’re going to try to seat Al Franken” vow. (The Pioneer Press’ Jim Ragsdale, scouring a transcript, finds that Reid’s much-quoted line actually contained its own qualifier: ”We’re going to try to seat Franken probably.”)

Indeed, we’ve heard similar noises from Reid over and over, only to take them back later. If Reidisms were horses, Franken would ride — or be seated already. 

The PiPress has video of Reid and Franken here.