Franken Passes Coleman In Recount

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports:

The intense scrutiny of "voter intent" resumed this morning by a five-member board charged with directing Minnesota's recount in the U.S. Senate race between incumbent Republican Norm Coleman and Democratic rival Al Franken, and the first rush of ballot rulings has unofficially put the challenger in the lead.

On Thursday, the State Canvassing Board reviewed Coleman's challenges of hundreds of Election Day ballots, and the day's work saw the unofficial margin between the candidates dwindle to within a handful of votes.

As the board, headed by Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, took up and rejected more Coleman challenges today, Franken pulled ahead in the opening minutes.

...

Franken's move to the lead was no real surprise, given that the vast majority of ballot challenges typically fail. On the previous two days, when the board examined challenges from Franken, most were rejected and Coleman gained.

On Thursday, the AP gave Norm Coleman a mere two-vote lead. Projections suggest Franken will win, but the race will most likely not be decided until next year. CNN reports that Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) is "quietly prepping for the possibility of a temporary Senate appointment, given the increasing likelihood the nation's lone unresolved Senate contest might not officially come to a close before Congress convenes again next month."

Comments

[trendier]

I don't care who wins just as long Al Franken is declared the new senator. Hehehe

[frappe]

There is justice in the world!

Congratulatons, Senator-elect Franken!

[mydogshakespeare]

Why not Re-VOTE instead of insisting of a endless recounting? Call a tie, and try again.

[wolfgangmo]

Well there is that pesky recount law they have in Minnesota. Perhaps if we all just decide to ignore any law we don't feel like obeying like republicans do, then perhaps we could.

[Okieborn]

Senator Al Franken !!
FOR AMERICA !! GO AL !!!

[jazzman]

It's the touchdown you score in the last seconds of the football game that puts you in the lead for the first time that really counts. Go Franken!!!!

[Witchitalineman]

Go Al! I would like to see the smug look on Coleman's face get wiped away.

[1differentdrummer]

What's Coleman's record? Was it only $75,000 he's accused of taking in bribes? Shoot, that's not much for a republican.

[Carolab]

OMG! Read these articles!

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6765

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Evidence-of-Republican-Fra-by-E-Nelson-081110-788.html

[lj8576]

ummm yea and....

[lj8576]

ahhhh typical reply from a FrankenFan ahhhh ha hahahah I laugh at you.

[JohnFromCensornati]

Typical idiocy from a Coleman fan. Franken fans will have the last laugh. hahaha.

[OhComeOnNow]

Another new paid 527 poster joins today. Silly infantile rhetoric so typical of these posters.

Have you finished your homework, yet?

[BoomBoomBoomBoom]

Bonehead Biil O'Reilly is Down's Syndrome personified.

[hortonhearsawho2]

When they passed each other did they speak?

[ilcapo]

GO AL GO!!GO AL GO!!

[GWHayduke]

No matter who is declared the winner the other side won't be happy with how the recount has been conducted.

Saddest of all: the outcome of this race is being decided by the votes of people who, given a pencil and a ballot, were not competent to fill in an oval. In many ways, it would only be fitting if the race ended in a tie and was decided with a coin flip. Should Al win that, it might be amusing to hear Rush complain about the extreme left-wing bias of the flipped coin.

[schatsie]

Please be reasonable about the voters...R­emember that 50% of the population has IQs less than 100 and some of them own homes, cars and guns and are a good part of the consumer economy and do their best to raise their children to be responsible for them when they get old....sim­ple as that... Let the Repugs patronize the working class, we know what the Repugs have done to the working class but we have the Mass Media to thank for the Repug propaganda­/brainwash­ing that lead them to vote for the Repugs...

[GWHayduke]

Neither party has a monopoly on stupidity.

[WSAY]

Actually, it is likely that most of these votes come from senior citizens who have trouble with their motor skills.

[WSAY]

GWHayduke: What makes you think these people were "incompetent?" You need to switch sides with such a hate filled cynical attitude.

[Puzzles]

Way I understand it is that it is being decided by votes that were erroneously put aside by election workers?

[CaptainVideo]

Coleman only won because Wellstone died shortly before the election. He should never have been elected and it is now time to rectify that mistake.

[WSAY]

Coleman used to be a Democrat. The Democrats saw him for what he is, however, and he had to switch sides due to lack of support.

[OhComeOnNow]

Yep, yep! Thanks for reminding folks about that. turncoat carpetbagger who should return to his home state and never darken our doors again.

[rabiddog6708]

Remember Coleman declaring himself the winner on election night.....­.I guess Al is getting the last laugh on Norm the W.orm.