Live From Capitol Hill, It's Sen. Al Franken

July 7, 2009— -- Live from the floor of the U.S. Senate, it's Sen. Al Franken.

With the visitors galleries packed and a few dozen senators in attendance, Vice President Joe Biden administered the oath of office to the former "Saturday Night Live" comedian.

Immediately afterward, the chamber erupted into a applause that lasted for several minutes. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and former Vice President Walter Mondale -- also a former Minnesota Senator -- escorted Franken onto the Senate floor.

The Associated Press reported that Franken took his oath on a Bible that belonged to the family of Sen. Paul Wellstone, the late Minnesota lawmaker who died in a plane crash in 2002.

Franken's swearing-in gives Minnesota its second senator, now that the eight-month battle over the seat has ended.

Last month, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of Franken instead of his challenger, former Sen. Norm Coleman, a Republican.

Franken took to Capitol Hill Monday, where his office already had furniture and there was a staged photo opportunity for reporters of a Senate employee slapping a temporary nameplate on the wall outside.

At a Monday appearance with the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, both men tried to draw attention away from the fact that Franken was set to become the 60th Democratic Senator -- so with perfect attendance and unanimity, Democrats could override a Republican filibuster.

But Democrats, two of whom are ill and rarely vote, almost never have perfect attendance and even more rarely have unanimity.