Credit where it's due

Did Minnesota play a role in John Roberts' confirmation as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court?

U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman thinks so. And apparently so does Roberts.

Coleman told delegates to the state GOP convention Friday afternoon that had he not been elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002, Roberts might never have become chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Coleman said that Roberts -- whose nomination as a U.S. district court judge had been held up in Congress -- visited him in his Senate office and thanked him. saying that had he not become the 51st Republican senator, Roberts might never have been elevated to chief justice.