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

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

Hmmmmm,
41 votes gained from 18% of the recount. If the trend continues, Franken will pick up a total of 227 votes by the recount's end. Go Al!

[Jeff1958]

Since he started down by 215, at the current rate Franken wins by 12 votes!

[adzeman]

"if the trend continues..."

Assuming the recount areas are uniform in demographics...plenty of nailbiting left to do....Go Franken!!

[rabiddog6708]

The Repubs live and elect by the Joseph Stalin mantra: "It's not the vote that counts. It's who counts the votes that counts." They can't get the Supreme Court to stop the counting of the votes this time and they are worried. Coleman has declared himself the winner and tried legal wrangling to delay the day of reckoning he knows is approaching.

[VikingQuest]

"Coleman has declared himself the winner"

So has Franken . . . he is in Washington acting like he won.

[CaptainVideo]

Coleman can declare himself to be Santa Claus for all the difference it makes. The only thing that matters is the result of the recount.

[pegbo]

They were both there. Since neither has legally won, I believe they both deserve to be there.

[adzeman]

Coleman can declare whatever he wants, but in my mind he will always be a loser.

[bassopotamus]

What a mess. Take 2 flawed candidates, throw an independent in the mix and see what comes out. I don't think Franken gets the credit he deserves for his intellect, but he is still a hard sell. Coleman will probably end up in jail at the rate things are going though.

[VikingQuest]

This race had the most money spent of any Senate race . . .

Somehow the (I) got 15% of the vote because they can't stand the other two.

This will be a win by default.

[pbfishtaco]

See Jesse "The Body" Ventura.

[Forester]

Glad to see Huffpo is not shy about showing unflattering images of AF like they do of GOP characters.

[zippywpinhead]

huffpo shows unflattering pix of everyone

funny thing is- that person's fans invariably cry about it as if their fav is the only one,

but huffpo's photos are consistently as bad as their headlines...

[POTUS2008]

lol!

[Foucek]

Well yiu can't make an Al Franken into a Viggo Mortensen, can you.

[VikingQuest]

Is there any photes that Franken doen't look like a handicapped kid?

[WarrenPeace]

"Is there any photes"?

[nevadagirl]

I saw him in person and had my picture taken with him. He actually looks just like Harrison Ford up close.

[levibatgirl]

Are there any of Cole.man that don't look like a sleaz.y used car salesman?

[Topsailsman]

What does a handicapped kid look like? Do you mean they look stupid? Should we laugh at photos of handicapped kids? Is that a real slam, "you look like a handicapped kid"?

[NicasioKid]

C-mon, Franken!!!!

[kingofscotts]

I know I know

He lost the damned race so just move on.

Bright side for Franken is he doesn't have to be a Minnesotan anymore.

See ya carpetbagger.

[RustyGranite]

So...the GOP got BLOWN OUT on election day, so now we have to be subjected to a bunch of troll whining over the 58th senate seat for days on end now?

Seriously, Republicans?

[zippywpinhead]

it's all they've got

rather pitiful...

[jdmccl]

I thought they had Prop 8 as well. Franken is a joke and not seen any smarts but a cynic whit.

[CaptainVideo]

We won, they lost! They are having a hard time dealing with it.

THEY'RE LOSERS!!!!!

[jthomsen]

I want Franken because of the sheer entertainment value..... I expect he would shake up the old farts...

and add some wonderful levity.... and common sense.

I've always liked Franken.

[pbfishtaco]

The spirit of Paul Wellstone lives on in Al Franken. He's made no secret of that. That is what is worrying the Bachmann wing of the Minnesota Republican Party.

[dadd]

Stuart Smalley...wow. People actually voted for him?

Wow.

[beanchihuahua]

I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me....

[gaja]

LOL

[taddles]

Yea, I know it's a shock, people voting for a smart person for once.

[nevadagirl]

Harvard grad and bestselling author.

[VikingQuest]

They are begining to show some of the ballots being challeneged, what would you say about this one?

http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower/files/2008/11/plymouth1.JPG

[Puzes]

looks like a vote for Coleman. So?

[VikingQuest]

These are the ones being challenged so there is no point in following this until the end. Right now this counts as a -1 for Coleman.

[RustyGranite]

I'd say I'd like to see the ones Coleman challenged, which a larger number than Franken.

[kingofscotts]

Why are huffstars so lazy?

A few minutes of checking and you would have seen that Coleman has not challenged any so far.

But hey don't let facts get in the way of trying to defend the indefensible.

[wldnswmmr]

someone thought about voting for Coleman for senator, thought better of it, then voted for no one at all. Clear as mud.

[WordPusher]

I'd say that looks like a vote for Coleman. The voter appears to have made an X on the circle, belatedly realized that he/she was supposed to fill it in, and clumsily tried to do so.

(And before anyone squawks that I'm biased, I'm a Democrat and an Obama campaign contributor.)

[Puzes]

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2008/11/19_challenged_ballots/


here are more ... with errors on all sides!

[TimmySlagle]

NEWS FLASH: Franken treats electoral process like it was the Boys and Girls Club of America.

The man who stole money from underprivileged children to save his failing radio career, will have no problem stealing an election, to save his political career.

And he's doing it, in broad daylight.

[Puzes]

Excuse me? What the bleep are you talking about?

[Meggie]

Wow, the radical Republican fundamentalist groups are out with their talking points today!

[RustyGranite]

With a.........state mandated re-count?

lol

[jdmccl]

headed by a corrupt Sec of State?

[ProudLiberalDan]

After 2000, no Republican ever has the right to complain about a "stolen" election again.

[TimmySlagle]

Yes, shame on us, because we didn't let you steal that one.

Ever notice how the longer a recount goes on, the higher thee vote totals go?

and it's always the Democrat who ends up winning...

[CaptainVideo]

We won, you lost. Deal with it!

LOSERS!!!!

[CaptainVideo]

The best way to deal with the trolls at this point is not to reply to their assertions, but, rather, to insult them.

[trollsbwild]

Sour grapes, buddy. The recount is being conducted in a bi-partisan manner. I'm willing to accept the results, how about you?

[dezzertguy]

Duh, with ACORN and other Dem groups in the state, it is not surprising Franken votes are turning up all over the place. At this stage, I don't see how the vote can be saved.

[zippywpinhead]

you really need to change your worn out talking points...

[zippywpinhead]

nice job on the double post, huffpo...

[Meggie]

Thank goodness the Republicans did not win their usual courtroom efforts to deny voters their rights. Might work with Republican run offices in Florida, but other states value their citizens and allow every vote to be counted.

[taddles]

Acorn has nothing to do with the recount and had nothing to do with the election. You migt know that if you actualy knew what Acorn was about and what could and did do, but you don't know that because you get your information from FOX and they don't know anything about Acorn either.

Unless you are implying that the bi-partisan recount board is somehow corrupt your post is inaccurate.

Vote saved?!? as in every vote counted and the person with the most votes wins or as in whatever you have to do to get a Republican elected.

[rzan1]

Your belief about ACORN has been proven to be wrong, so give it up.

[LittleTart]

Yawn... Oh, are you guy's still here?

[Meggie]

Enough drama Dems! If the recent study is accurate, all corrections will favor Franken because Dems want to be - what - independent? different/individuals? free thinkers?
Next time, just fill out the ballot the way you're supposed to so that this can be over with in a reasonable timeframe! The suspense is not a good thing every time!

[AlwaysRepublican]

Make sure you get your ACORN team involved. Can't win a thing without voting early and often. The Democrat Motto.

[zippywpinhead]

must be the whine of the day

you guys are as predictable as you are pathetic...

[Meggie]

Why do Republicans always want to deny American citizens their right to vote?
time to get over yourselves. poor people have the right to vote, too.
whiner.

[taddles]

Too bad you don't know what Acorn is or does, your comment might not look so foolish.

[Puzes]

And the Repub motto? I say : why do it the right way when you can lie, cheat & steal an election! Plenty of evidence of that Repub practice.

[LittleTart]

This ACORN bit is so tired. No one has ever voted illegally because of ACORN. The only illegal actions were employees of ACORN trying to cheat the agency out of wages. By law ACORN has to submit the "fraudulent" voter registration cards to the Registrars Office where a county clerk inspects and either approves or disapproves it. ACORN must by law turn in all Voter Registration forms, even those that belong to Mickey Mouse, He-Man, or Smurfette. It's not fraud, it is the law.

[CaptainVideo]

We won, you lost! Deal with it!

LOSERS!!!!!!!

[gahoggafugga]

i think old al franken's political career ended beforeit started. just like his comedy career.

let it go al, you never were that funny to begin with. al though stuart smalley was ok...lol

[Meggie]

But that's why he's going to win! Because he's smart enough and nice enough and doggon it people like him!

[meowomon]

You obviously fell asleep early on Saturday nights back when he was not only a regular actor, but also a writer on SNL. Al Franken is a hilarious comedian and has a keen mind and quick wit. He will be an asset to the senate and a strong voice for progressives.

I can't wait for this guy to bring his loud assed mouth and Midwestern ethics to congress. Norm Coleman is from a dying party of bigots and 19th century economic policies. Franken's refreshing brashness will certainly stir a few things up in those somber hallways.

[LittleTart]

Al Franken was head writer on SNL for years, many during it's peak. Last I check Al Franken's comedy career is ranked as one of the finest not one of the worst.

[kingofscotts]

"Last I check Al Franken's comedy career is ranked as one of the finest not one of the worst."

Holy crap how hard was it to type that with a straight face?

I give you credit. Most huffstars try to litter their insane postings with a shred of truth. You on the other hand just throw caution to the wind and type wild bs.

Oh and he was never head writer during the "peak years"

A simple google search would have confirmed that for you.

Why are huffstars so lazy?

[Jeff1958]

Writer and actor for SNL 75 - 80 and 85 - 95. Yeah, SNL sure sucked in the 70's. Are you nuts?

[nevadagirl]

Bestselling author.

[HDR]

You could get every clown in the circus and they'd do no worse a job then the current Congress. That's for both sides of the aisle.

[AlwaysRepublican]

That I agree with.

[NicasioKid]

Phew! NOTAlwaysWillfullyIgnorant!

[Meggie]

No kidding. Do you get those Republicans rushing in to increase the financial industry bailout to over $800B, but when it comes to the American worker, they want Big Business to throw out all agreements they've made with retired Americans who have worked their whole lives to build this country?
Republicans in this current congress are supporting foreign car companies that give their workers HALF the benefits of American companies and then take the profits off to their own country? But to heck with America's future!
No wonder Republicans are out! And they'll be out for a long time to come. I for one am making sure that young people see you can't trust these bums.

[eggman]

It's not all members of Congress, just 99% spoiling it for everyone.