Downballot: Franken declares victory
Posted: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 9:16 AM by Domenico Montanaro
MINNESOTA: The Minneapolis Star Tribune writes that “Al Franken's 225-vote lead in the marathon U.S. Senate recount was unanimously certified Monday by the state Canvassing Board, prompting attorneys for Republican Norm Coleman to immediately declare that they will challenge the results in court… The lawsuit that Coleman's attorneys said they would file today is called an election contest. It will prevent Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, under state law, from officially certifying Franken's election until the legal process has run its course.”
“No one knows how long that might take, but Coleman attorney Fritz Knaak said their case will pivot in part on constitutional issues, such as the equal protection clause, that typically are decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.”
"After 62 days of careful and painstaking hand-inspection of nearly 3 million ballots, after hours and hours of hard work by election officials and volunteers around the state, I am proud to stand before you as the next senator from Minnesota," Franken said Monday.
The New York Times: “For Mr. Coleman … the political calculus of whether to contest the election legally involves both national and state considerations. A contested election could take months to resolve, which might earn him some points with national Republican leaders, even if he failed to overturn the canvassing board’s decision, because it would keep one more Democrat out of the Senate through at least the early days of the Obama administration as immense issues like an economic stimulus and taxes are debated. Countering that is how much a continued battle could affect his political future within the state -- he is 59 years old -- if residents simply become fed up and blame him for having only one senator at a crucial moment in history.”
NEW YORK: At least six candidates, the New York Times says, have received a 28-page questionnaire from the Gov. Paterson, including Caroline Kennedy. "Representatives Steve Israel, Carolyn B. Maloney, Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Jerrold L. Nadler, as well as Thomas R. Suozzi, the Nassau County executive. The form appears to be similar to one filled out by executive branch job applicants; they were mailed to the Senate aspirants early last week and are due back on Thursday. Mr. Israel described the form as essentially indicating ‘you are being considered by the governor for the position, enclosed are 28 pages. Fill them out.’”
