MN Update: Franken Seizes Lead, A 250-Vote Margin
Democrat Al Franken seized the lead for the first time in the MN Senate race today, jumping past his Republican rival by 250 votes, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Good news, but no guarantee of a Franken win over Sen. Norm Coleman. The counting continues Monday, and the dispute over how to handle more than 1,000 absentee ballots persists -- though the state Supreme Court ruled yesterday that they must be counted.
Coleman's team today petitioned the state's highest court not to tally so-called double counted ballots:
“We are disappointed the Franken Campaign would not join us in finding a resolution to this serious problem. Unfortunately, without that resolution, the State Canvassing Board has made it clear they will have to count some Minnesotan’s votes twice. This means that millions of other Minnesota voters are being disenfranchised by the influence of hundreds of duplicate ballots that simply should not be counted. We respect the decision of the Board Members who have said that without an agreement by the campaigns they are powerless to remedy this matter. In order to ensure the integrity of the final results of the recount, the Canvassing Board must be provided clearer direction by the Supreme Court that such double-counting not only violates the Constitution, but also the sole purpose of the Canvassing Board ... ”
Franken's team called the plea "bogus."
"Now that they realize they are going to lose, they are once again running to court to try to change the rules and disenfranchise hundreds of voters based on a theory they invented and cannot support with any real evidence," writes Franken communications director Andy Barr.
The saga will continue through the holidays. Pressing matters to consider ...
Will either candidate be seated when the 111th Congress convenes Jan. 6?
Will the Democratic leadership rush to seat Franken if such a narrow margin remains?
Should somebody call Bill Gardner in snowy NH for a consult?