Al Franken Election: Coleman's Lead Shrinks To 174 Votes

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports:

The Great Minnesota Recount kicked off Wednesday with masses of volunteers for Republican U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman and Democratic challenger Al Franken moving into a fresh phase of the struggle: eyeballing the first of 2.9 million ballots, ready to pounce on anything that looked questionable.

By day's end, with about 18 percent of the vote recounted, Coleman continued to lead Franken -- but by only 174 votes, notably narrower than the unofficial gap of 215 votes at which the recount had begun. Franken's gain owed much to a swing of 23 votes in the Democratic stronghold of St. Louis County -- the result of faintly marked ballots and older optical scanners that failed to read the marks.

The figures represent a Star Tribune compilation of recount data reported to the secretary of state and gathered by the Star Tribune.

Read the whole story.

Read more about Al Franken here and more about the recount here.

Comments

[jfcd]

While do I feel that Norm is one stall away from Larrycraigdom?

[Antacid]

Is there a HuffPo conspiracy to pick the freakiest looking pictures of Franken available? He's no Brad Pitt, but come on.

[Bushwillresign]

He looks like the Riddler? Hope he wins...

[hjfraser2002]

Looks doesn't make you a good person

[Aslanspal]

Is the new count 163 margin....someone verify ...that minn star site is confusing slightly

Time 1:40 p.m. cst

[levibatgirl]

156

[Aslanspal]

Thankyou, so many intangibles to consider, the rate of plus or minus meaning plus for Al Franken looks so thin close.

???? so the ballots that are being pulled and questioned are they frivilous on the part of Coleman are they part of the count or minus count....wow! someone needs to explain to me what is what.

156 at 30 percent that is a gain of 59 okay add 3 more to that 59 x 4 = 236

Okay people that is sooooooooo close ...my main ??? are the question ballots part of that number or are they pulled for later consideration.

[mh01]

165.

[bighillaryfan]

This is taking longer than Hillary as Secretary of state.

Anyone seen this?

http://theliepolitic.com/2008/11/president-elect-barack-obama-the-internet-genius-integrates-youtube-watch/

[WasteNJ]

Franken looks freakishly like the Joker from Batman. Just add some white makeup and red around the mouth. Maybe Nicholson can play him in his bio-pic.

---"Wait till they get a load of me..."

[Capano]

On my knees before God, I continue to pray that Al Fraken wins the Senatoral Election in Minn.

OH....I forget. The Republicans say, "God only hears Southern Baptist and Evangelical prayers". Has GOD ever got a ANOTHER surprise for them.

[Bushwillresign]

A little student in my son's 1st grade class told her peers that Obama doesn't believe in GOD and if you say he does you are lying. Good parentals huh?

[Durango]

SHE has a big surprise for them.

[mh01]

Good grief, What republican says that? I think you mean your caricature of a republican says....

And God must have a sense of humor if Franken is elected.

[wm1066]

Not to go into tinhat territory but this might show if some precincts gerryriged their votes for Norm.
We might have some real voter fraud show up that would have went unnoticed had Norm gotten more votes, that explains why Norm wanted Al to concede without a recount.
Just a theory, nothing to back it up with.

[mamacat]

It was very suspicious that Norm was pushing so hard for Al to quit, when Norm has such an infinitisimal lead. Logic dictates that in such a close election, all the votes should be counted before anyone concedes.

[Durango]

That is just standard tactics. Trying to make Coleman look like a winner. Worked like a charm in the Corporate media for George W. bush in Florida in 2000.

Too bad for Coleman he doesn't have the Supremes to back up his bogus claims.

But who knows about voter fraud. This could get interesting.

[lavndrblue]

No matter, it is the law that triggered the recount, not a decision by Franken or Coleman.

[hjfraser2002]

I am thinking something like that too.

[unhipcat]

If Franken wins, I'd love to spend some time with O'Reilly.

[UltraClassic]

Talk about a poster child for the far left, get a load of that picture!

[levibatgirl]

Cole.man looks like a typical rethug sle.aze bag.

[Eoin45]

Still haven't posted a link to a picture of yourself have you Ultra? Come on. Man up and show us how great YOU look.

[hjfraser2002]

That is a shallow way to view things.

Do you truly believe that looks should dictate who gets into office.

Very shallow man.

[mh01]

Yep, now i'm sure of it. After your responses to my comments, and seeing some of your other comments here, you definitely need to take some things a little less seriously!

[mh01]

Oh, and I noticed you reserved your criticism for Ultra Classic, but left levibatgirl (below) alone.

Not only do you need to lighten up, but you need to not be a hypocrite.

[soot]

Oh man, please! Please let Al win!

He'll be a great senator for our state, I really believe it. He's got a big heart.

[mero909]

A big heart... yeah, that's what you need to be a great senator....

[edgeways]

better than Norm's big teeth I tells ya

[greeniefromOH]

Better than no heart at all (GOP).

[SpringDoc]

Well, yeah... to be the voice of his constituents, it does take a big heart, good understanding of their issues and have a voice for the constituents. So, if your being cynical, think about it. If your in agreeance with 'soot'. Love ya.
Regardless, I hope Al wins, too.

[mamacat]

A big hearted and smart Democrat, or
A Republican with his hand held out for bribes.
Take your pick.

[PengieP]

A big heart isn't everything but it counts for a lot- especially with regards to the seat which was and in my mind always will be Paul Wellstone's

[Southrnbelle]

I really want Al Fraken to win, but unfortunately, it doesn't matter if Coleman's lead is only "1" vote he will still win. Let's hope for the best. Georgia as well!

[ShamusNYC]

If Al pulls ahead before all the votes are counted, will Norm just concede as he tried to get Al to do?

[mater]

Good question! Norm Coleman---Joe Lieberman, can't really tell them apart . Both have changed their tunes so many times to accommodate their own agendas, it's hard to forgive and forget when there is so much at stake for the country, not just for each of them. It would be nice to have Al win this one and bring some fresh energy to the Senate.

[SpringDoc]

Good point about Lieberman.
I tend to think he gets the John McCain reference of: Just which Joe are we dealing with today?, now that the general election is (almost) over. It's like being on the battle line in Vietnam and Iraq. The enemy and friendlies all look the same. SO, which mask is he wearing today, the Friendly Joe or Joe the Republican? He can never be accepted as Joe Lieberman the Democrat. I (we) just won't forget his rhetoric.

[spinns17]

call your reps/we want a run off now

[milo h minderbinder]

State law is clear, the election can't be thrown out just because someone wants a do-over.

[ReasoNseeKer]

Changing election law after the election doesn't work -- see Bush v Gore 2000.

[lovethesinner]

Go Al. Go Al. Go oy oy oy.

[trollsbwild]

Will The Dead play his victory party?

[SkyWolf]

Recounts are nerve wracking. I won a local selectman’s race by 3 votes and thought I would climb the walls watching the ballots get recounted. (At the end of the day no votes changed). That was small potatoes compared to what is at stake in Minnesota. We can only hope Franken prevails in this contest.

[mamacat]

I was really cheering Al on, but win or lose, he ran a good campaign.