Norm Coleman Ready To Give Up Fight, Allies Say

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn on Wednesday suggested that former Sen. Norm Coleman's long fight was almost over, saying that he'll support his old colleague "until he decides to hang it up one way or another."

TodayRoll Call has reported that Coleman himself appears ready to hang it up pretty soon. While party leaders are prepared to back him in a fight to the Supreme Court, sources close to Coleman say that if he loses in the Minnesota Supreme Court he will accept the result.

Sources close to Coleman say the former Senator would likely give up his legal battle and accept defeat if the Minnesota Supreme Court decides in Franken's favor. That's because Coleman anticipates that Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) would ultimately sign Franken's certification papers. [...]

Coleman is said to view his case as a matter of fairness based on Minnesota election law, which is expansive. The Republican is said to believe so strongly that he is in the right -- and that the results so far have resulted in the disenfranchisement of millions of Minnesota voters -- that he was willing to risk his political standing over the long term in order to see it through.

"He will be done" if he loses at the state Supreme Court, one Republican predicted.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said this week that, if directed by the court, he will ratify Al Franken as the election winner. Asked if he would delay the signing under pressure from his party, he responded, "I think you guys have really overbaked that issue ... I'm going to do whatever the court says. If the court directs me to sign that certificate, I will." However, Rick Hasen at Election Law Blog has argued that Pawlenty could still delay the result if the court does not specifically direct him to sign the election certificate.

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Comments

[bleedingheartliberal218]

The Minnesota Supreme "court" "judge" who was a Coleman donor will be sitting in judgment of the Coleman appeal of the Al Franken U. S. Senate election victory? Naturally, his recusal should be foirthcoming because of the obvious appearance if not outright exixstence of impropriety, but ethics don't come easy to "judges" because they're politicians. And of course, only those who have had the benefit of a law school education are capable of understanding the complexities and nuances of the law so the opinions of ordinary people don't matter. I'm sure the "judge" feels he can be fair and impartial in the matter (just like slave-owning U. S. Supreme court "justice Roger Tawney was in the Infamous Dred Scott case in 1857).

[applecrispbetty]

There cannot be millions of disenfranchised voters in Minnesota. Coleman was either quoted incorrectly or he's crazy.

[ClicheRinpoche]

can't it be both?

[hdj8501]

It's about time! Good Lord!

[middlemanri]

I think Norm is just another example of the attitude of the remaining GOP. They could care less about this country or Minnesota, all that matters is "the party" the country be damned its all about their own interests only. Have no fear for Coleman's future, he will most lucky join the ranks of other republican losers in the past and become a lobbyist for the highest bidder. Minnesota, you are better then this!

[DFL]

Repubs only like america when it works for them.

[ClicheRinpoche]

Of course you meant to say:

"It's only America when it works for repubs."

Otherwise it's France or Iran or those bas***ds in Canada

[weatherwaxx]

November: "If I were behind in the count, I'd concede."

After the state-mandated recount: "Concede? MOI?"

Just another flip-flop GOP.

[RickCoMatic]

The Lower Court seemed to be very interested in precisely why it was that the all the "Disenfranchised" Absentee Voters came from the Election Precincts within walking distance from the front door to the Country Club where the Republican Party held fund raisers. The surrounding neighborhoods, cities and towns so Republican and up-scale that you didn't run-out to get the newspaper off the front lawn in your pajamas without first putting-on a tie!

[thewestmorg]

Wasn't coleman one of those "Stop the count" enthusiasts in 2000? what an obvious, blatant hypocrite.
Uh, sorry, i mean, what a common, average republican.

[ssfahrer]

That is NOT hypocrisy. He wanted NO recounts THEN and NOW. A hypocrite says one thing yesterday and the opposite today-- Coleman is (for his faults) CONSISTENT in his beliefs on this issue!
Remember that the initial vote count had COLEMAN winning, and as the recounts have gone on and on, Franken has managed to 'find' (or is it CREATE?) additional votes for himself at Coleman's expense. This would appear to be ELECTION FRAUD at its worst (which was prevented in 2000, but has reared its ugly head in 2008/2009, etc.)....

[JustAThought56]

The close election results you refer to that had Coleman winning by a couple of hundred votes, and calling for Franken to concede, triggered an automatic recount. That recount put Franken in the lead, and all of a sudden Coleman changed his mind about his argument that the person with the most votes wins and the loser should concede. He demanded a recount of the recount, which only widened Franken's lead.

There are so many eyes on this process, so many thousands of people involved from both sides, that fraud is the least of the concerns. There is not even a hint of fraud. What there is is a sore, hypocritical loser who has never held a real job in his life and is panicked at the thought of actually losing - and the fact that Minnesotans have been without a second Senator due to Coleman's immaturity.

[BettyTC]

I don't think Pawlenty feels he owes Norm anything. Pawlenty will sign the certificate.

A little history: In 2002, Pawlenty wanted to run for Governor, but Republican Party leaders were in favor of Brian Sullivan. He (Pawlenty) then considered a run for Senate being held that same election year. He was asked by national GOP leaders to bow out so that Norm wouldn't have a caucus/primary fight. The Bush/Cheney White House wanted Norm in that seat. Pawlenty acquiesed and ran against Sullivan for Governor in the caucuses and convention, won and eventually won in a three candidate Governor race.

Say what you like about Tim Pawlenty. Not beholden to the national GOP. As a matter of fact, they owe him big.

There's talk that Norm may consider the MN Governor's race for 2010. Norm lost to Jesse Ventura (Independent) in 1998. So, Norm has lost to a wrestler and a comedian. AND before Paul Wellstone died, the race was very close. Wellstone probably would have won.

Norm should just get into the insurance business like his wife. I hear it's pretty lucrative.

[lisakaz2]

Wake me when it's really over.

[DSOTM]

Maybe Norm will reimburse the people of Mn. for all the money he cost the tax payers because he allowed his ego to take over.

Norm, when you lose by one vote, its still a loss.

[thewestmorg]

I bet it wasn't Coleman's decision to drag it out in court like this. The GOP gave him marching orders, and he's doing what he was assigned to do. delay Franken and keep that additional seat empty for as long as possible.

[bibimimi]

He'll be running for MN Governor next. 1:5 odds on that.

[Golfer59]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[mychagall]

Al Franken needs to get seated asap. Any delays are inexusable. 60 Dem seats. I love it!

[weatherwaxx]

58 seats and two flip-floppers. I don't trust Lieberman and Spector any farther than I can drop-kick them.

Here's hoping Pawlenty likes his political career enough to stop playing obstructionist. I'll bet the people of Minnesota are pretty fed up with this.

[ssfahrer]

Pawlenty should resign rather than go along with all this. Let the Democrats wallow in their own election fraud all by themselves!

[littlechuckie]

Norm's gotta go. We've had plenty of pawlenty. Sign the certificate and don't let the door hit you in the .. on the way out.

[ptobe]

In other news, George Armstrong Custer is said to be on the verge of admit defeat at Little Big Horn...

[HmblDog]

We could all benefit from the confidence and optimism displayed by Custer as he prepared for battle.
I believe it was he that famously said, "Hold your horses men. There's plenty of Indians down there for all of us."

[weatherwaxx]

More than sufficient, I'd say.