Minn. Senate Race Tightens In Recount

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CBS/AP

With 60% Of Ballots Re-Examined GOP Incumbent Leads By 115 Votes, But Challenges Remain

(AP) The weekend isn't bringing any respite in the Minnesota Senate recount.

Ballots in the ultra-close race between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken are being counted in at least three counties Saturday.

Fifty-three counties have reported complete results to the secretary of state, meaning fewer than three dozen remain. As of Friday night, at least 60 percent of the estimated 2.9 million ballots had gotten a second look.


Election judges Lucy Karml and Diana Kittelson count ballots by hand over the watchful eyes of Geri Katz, a representative of Al Franken, Friday, Nov. 21, 2008 at a recount site in Minneapolis. All 3 million ballots statewide must be hand counted by the Dec. 5 deadline to decide the Senate race. (AP Photo/Dawn Villella)

Coleman entered the recount with a 215-vote edge over Franken. That lead has dropped to 115 votes when comparing totals in precincts where the new count is complete. But the figure doesn't include ballot challenges, which have caused vote tallies for both men to drop.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/22/politics/main4627686.shtml

[mcg]

1. "And the final outcome will likely rest on the 1,893 ballot challenges ...

From the CBS News link:

"And the final outcome will likely rest on the 1,893 ballot challenges filed by the two campaigns, due to be taken up by a special canvassing board Dec. 16."

This could take a while.

Recently updated detail by county ...

http://ww2.startribune.com/news/metro/elections/returns/2008/recount/msenco.html

[minnesota_liberal]

2. Many of the ballot challenges are baloney

I don't know if the Franken representatives are doing this too, but Coleman's reps have challenged clearly marked ballots for Franken on the basis that anyone who voted for McCain/Palin obviously meant to vote for Coleman. They've also challenged ballots with no Senate vote at all on the basis that if the voter voted for McCain/Palin, they intended to vote for Coleman.

[Hulk]

3. If that's the case, that is baloney!...or worse

[deadmessengers]

6. Self-delete, misread the comment

[tclambert]

4. At this rate, by Dec. 5th, they will be exactly tied.

Al! If you're gonna alternate days with Coleman, demand that you get to serve on the odd-numbered days. There are 7 extra odd days per year, 8 in 2012 (leap year).

[rocktots]

5. Funny...

One clown knows hes a clown, one doesn't...:P

[breadandwine]

7. Not good. If they wind up even Coleman wins after you factor in the GOP dirty tricks factor.

...

[scarface2004]

8. coleman can concede now!!

republican asshole!

[Stargleamer]

9. Go, Geri, Go!

If Florida had had the same recount procedure as Minnesota 8 years ago, we would have been spared 8 years of Republican-inflicted damage.

[Unca Jim]

10. What I got from my local recount....

1. Our elections are apparently squeaky-freakin'-clean! Less than five thousandths of a percent of discrepancies!

2. A lot of people honestly like Norm Coleman and dislike Al Franken for some odd reason.

Good Luck Al!

[alfredo]

11. Most election workers are dedicated to running a fair election.

I've worked the polls for a few years now, and have grown to respect the efforts of our county clerk office.