Coleman Campaign Withdraws 650 Ballot Challenges

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A quick finish to Minnesota's U.S. Senate race seemed unlikely Thursday when the city of Minneapolis was given an open-ended extension to locate ballots counted on Election Day that have since gone missing.

About 130 ballots were not included in a recount that was due to end Friday. To help shorten the length of review for 2.9 million votes, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman withdrew 650 ballot challenges Thursday, matching an earlier gesture by Democrat Al Franken.

The campaigns have challenged more than 6,500 ballots during the recount, but both sides have acknowledged that many of the challenges lack merit. Coleman's step means both campaigns have started to cull challenges so the state's Canvassing Board won't waste time when it meets Dec. 16 to settle the recount.

By Thursday, Coleman led by 205 votes when precinct figures from Nov. 4 and the recount were compared.

But Franken's campaign said Thursday that by its own count, the Democrat holds a tiny lead hinging on the missing ballots from a University of Minnesota-area precinct.

Franken's attorney, Marc Elias, urged Minneapolis officials to "move heaven and earth" to find them.

"The outcome of the election might be at stake," Elias said.

Coleman's attorney, Fritz Knaak, said the Franken campaign was overreacting.

"We do not know that there are any ballots missing, and it is premature and simply irresponsible to suggest that they are," Knaak said.

Minneapolis elections director Cindy Reichert said an investigation into the missing ballots so far has shown that all custody rules were followed and that she believed they would be found.

Knaak said the Coleman campaign was likely to withdraw more challenges but would prefer to do it under terms agreed upon by the Franken campaign.

Elias said both sides should be able to withdraw challenges independently, but said, "If it will help reduce challenges, I will meet with them."

Comments

[Coattails]

With Coleman up 192 right now excluding the missing 133, even if they all went for Franken (which they will not), Coleman is still slightly ahead.

There were about 6500 challenged ballots as well to be reviewed however, the Coleman campaign has dropped 650 of their challenges and the Franken campaign has dropped 633 of theirs. And, next week both campaigns are going to get together and try to agree on other challenges that they can drop.

That is not good for Franken, the fewer ballots left to be challenged gives him less of a chance.

Just so you all know, don't listen to the Franken campaign on their predictions, they have been making leaks throughout this entire recount and none of their numbers have been accurate where it counts, which is with the MN Secretary of State.

The MN Secretary of State released their latest numbers on 8pm Friday, they include all recounted ballots except the once precinct that is missing ballots, and without that counted at all, it has Coleman ahead 710.

http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20081104/SenateRecount.asp

[Coattails]

Oops, meant to say that the MN SOS has Coleman up 687, but that is still their official number right now, feel free to check that site for the official results, it gets updated every weeknight at 8pm central.

[bogues]

I am more than a little concerned with the part of this story that states some votes have been lost. I know that the votes in question come from a Franken leaning area. It should send up red flags! Those 130 ballots were in exsistance on Nov. 4th. why are they missing now.

[Obama4change]

I need something explained to me. Why is it that the Minnesota Secretary of State's website that was updated last night at 8 pm has Franken winning by over 4,000? Everyone is saying Franken is behind by 300. I don't get it.

[Roll451]

Perhaps the remaining precincts to be recounted are in areas that voted heavily for Coleman.

[dadw5boys]

Coleman : If we get behind in the recount remove the challenges in the most Republican Counties.

Coleman don't care if those absentee ballots belong to Soldiers in Iraq ir Afganistan !

[BicycleRepairman]

I wonder what happened to Minneapolis Mike? Anyone heard from him lately?

[ScoutandBuckGoodDogs]

What is up with this dude's choppers? Creepy creeperson.

[Carolab]

Check this out:

http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=171&ArticleName=Al+Franken+Holds+An+Interesting+Lead

Update [8:15 PM CT]: Well its later tonight and the new numbers have been posted by the MN SOS. First a recap of today's official result:

Recount Original
Coleman: 1,193,307 - 1,195,885 = -2,578
Franken: 1,197,965 - 1,200,533 = -2,568

Franken Net Today: 91 (-13 Yesterday, 41 day before, -29)
Total Franken Net: 10
Franken Deficit: 225

The challenge numbers have also been updated and are shown below using the postive/negative convention already established:

Franken: +765
Coleman: -41

Net Franken: 806

Unfortunately the new challenge numbers do not factor in the withdrawn ballots by both campaigns; there is a disclaimer on the results page explicitly stating that "these totals do not include results for 633 challenged ballots that were withdrawn by the Al Franken campaign." Each candidate increased their challenge count, Coleman by 70 and Franken 112. If we compare today's challenges with yesterday's, it is safe to assume that Coleman's frivolous challenges are also included in today's count; unless of course, Franken challenged 745 ballots today.

It now appears as though 62% of Franken's challenges occur in precincts he is currently winning. Coleman's percentage slipped from 50.8% to 49.4% with the inclusion of the newly posted data.

[flydoghead]

thanks for your post

[tbirdalum]

I'll tell you what happened to the 130 ballots, Old Bucky Beaver ate them up. Now you know why he has that sh*t-eating grin on his face.

[Grunty1]

Since the vast majority of Repulbicans wear those grins...

[primitivedreamer]

If they can't find the missing ballots, because the original vote count matches the number of people that signed the voting register, a good argument can be made that the original vote count should be used for that precinct.

[flydoghead]

I believe there is evidence to the contrary. What is your source ?

[Carolab]

The missing ballots are derived from the fact that the number of voters in the registers is MORE than the number of votes/ballots.

The SOS sent out a letter yesterday asking for a full explanation from Maplewood precinct 6:

And I got this this afternoon:

I wanted to share the latest news on the recount here in Minnesota: Our latest internal report has Al Franken leading Norm Coleman by 10 votes with some 56,000 ballots left to be included in the hand count.

Now, that number is going to change between now and the end of the recount - but we're confident that when all the votes have been counted, Al Franken will be the next Senator from Minnesota.

But ensuring that every vote is counted will require constant vigilance and a tough stance from our campaign. Already, we've seen ballots going missing, absentee votes improperly rejected, and the Coleman campaign attempting to game the system by challenging hundreds of extra ballots (which, by the way, is the reason some published reports falsely suggest Coleman is leading by several hundred votes).

This could wind up being the closest Senate race in U.S. history. Today, I'm happy to report that Al Franken is in the lead - and we think we'll net even more votes when the state canvassing board examines challenged ballots in the next phase, scheduled to begin on December 16.

Stephanie Schriock
Campaign Manager
Al Franken for Senate

[flydoghead]

Minneapolis Elections Director Cindy Reichert said she's "not sure where [the missing envelope] would have gone" but that her staff is "in the process of looking under everything."

If the the numbers matched up then why has she changed her story and is now looking for the votes ?

[madtom]

Free suits and a $75,000 bribe to him, through his wife. Gifts from people who needed his support as a US Senator.

Coleman needed to plea bargain, not run for re-election. Poor timing, bad judgment.

If he wins -- and he may -- mathematically, this is WAY too close to call -- Coleman will be expelled from the Senate when he gets nailed for the $75,000 bribe to him that was paid to his wife.

[Harry Scrote]

Sorry, couldn't bring myself to read the c rap about Coleman. But did find myself asking, "Does this guy wear dentures?"

[WorkingClass]

Check out the skinny neck.

[trendier]

Oh......This recount seems to be endless. It's a nail biter this thing.

[MrsPeel]

" 'The outcome of the election might be at stake,' Elias said.

"Coleman's attorney, Fritz Knaak, said the Franken campaign was 'overreacting.'

" 'We do not know that there are any ballots missing, and it is premature and simply irresponsible to suggest that they are,' Knaak said."
___________________________________________________________________________

Tell it to Al Gore!

Make sure Barkley's are counted, including Charles' if you can find any.

[DoctorWhoDat]

Where is Katherine Harris when we need her?

[MrsPeel]

Yeah, bummer.

No doubt she's recovering from yet more plastic surgery.

[hangdogit]

She's gearing up to run as Sarah's VP.

[embracezionism]

Franken will move "heaven and earth" to fake those 130 votes and steal this thing!

[Carolab]

There will be no "stealing" of ANYTHING in my state, thank you. We elected a good, honest, nonpartisan Secretary of State who plays by the rules. Which can't be said for the former SOS, who was a Republican operative.

[embracezionism]

You must be joking! The ACORN and MoveOn.org candidate?!?!

[mh01]

Yeah, and it was just dumb luck that they "found" 132 ballots in st. louis county, with 100% of the votes on those ballots going to franken. (he won that county by roughly 67% to 33%)

That might not be "stealing", but its pretty amazing luck. One might even say it defies all odds.

And the secretary of state was bought and paid for by ACORN and moveon. And they admit it.

[roshni]

Fine with me.
Tired of the rethugs!

[JePenseDoncJeSuis]

Nice principles. I'm tired of people selling their souls in these close elections. This isn't like stealing signals in a baseball game -- it's an election for one of the 100 most powerful seats in government for six years. Rethug this, Democrap that. At least try to keep your integrity.

[kevenseven]

Tough chit, loser.

I hope it causes you immense pain.

[flydoghead]

yeah, it's bitch when you get to really count the votes isn't it ?

[Grunty1]

Why are so many tr0lls incapable of performing basic subtraction?

I guess we know the answer to "Is our children learning?" now, don't we?